When the bees are in the early stages of spring, they require a lot of food to build their stores of protein. Some people place an entrance feeder at the entrance of the hive. Others place the entrance feeder on frames inside a deep hive and cover it with a body shell and a lid. It is important to remember that the bees will not come down to the entrance feeder if it is too cold.
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Pollen is a source of protein
If you want to provide your bees with protein, you should consider making some pollen patties. Bees need protein and carbohydrate sources to survive. Normally, they get these from honey and sugar syrup. They use these carbohydrates for daily activities. But you can also use these patties to provide protein.
Pollen is a rich source of amino acids, and a few types of pollen contain more protein than others. It’s important to select a variety of pollen for the health of your bee colonies. This can be a challenge in a modern setting, since flowering species are scarce. Bees that lack essential amino acids can experience reduced life spans, lowered resistance to disease, and decreased foraging ability.
Sugar syrup mimics a honey flow
Bees need more carbohydrates than nectar during the winter, and sugar syrup is a great way to help them meet this need. It’s also a good way to help them create more stores for the winter. The trick is to prepare it with warm or hot water, which helps the sugar dissolve and bees can easily digest it.
It’s important to keep in mind that the amount of sugar in nectar varies based on environmental conditions. This can vary greatly from morning to evening, on cool days to hot days, and even within blooms on the same plant. Bees don’t understand the concentration of sugar in their nectar, so making syrup at the correct ratio will make a difference.
Golden Tickseed is a remedy for the immune system
The Golden Tickseed is a flower that is not only a food source for honey bees, but also a beneficial herb for humans. Its leaves can reduce fever and stop bleeding, while its flowers can boost the immune system. Golden tickseed is also a showy flower.
Bees’ immune system works by recognizing specific pathogens by their surface proteins. These proteins are unique to bees and they have multiple defenses. They have roaming hemocyte cells and enzymes in the hemolymph that help them to fight off invaders. Once an invader is identified, the hemocyte cells release an enzyme called phenoloxidase, which initiates a chemical response. Quinines are released from the enzyme that kills disease-causing bacteria and fungi.
Yarrow is a spring bee food
Yarrow is a beautiful and versatile flower that attracts a wide variety of pollinators. The broad, flat flower surface and many tiny florets provide a large area where insects can collect nectar. A yarrow flower head contains several parts, including a long, flat tongue that can be extended to collect nectar.
Yarrow is a perennial in most areas of North America. It is hardy and not particularly fragrant, but its distinctive smell attracts flies and solitary bees.
Fondant is a spring bee food
If you have a hive, you may want to consider providing the bees with fondant as a spring bee food. This sweet treat is easy to prepare and can be kept in plastic freezer bags to keep the fondant moist. During the warmer months, it can be stored in combs for the bees to feed on.
Besides being a great spring bee food, fondant also makes an excellent emergency feed in the winter months. You can place a small amount over a cluster to minimize starvation risks. It is also easy to handle and is not likely to encourage robbing. Regardless of whether you decide to use fondant as a spring bee food, you should check your hive frequently and replace it as needed.
Yarrow
Yarrow is one of the easiest flowers to grow and is great for spring bees. The plant does well in sun, but doesn’t like full shade and doesn’t like temperatures below freezing. It also doesn’t like excess humidity, but tolerates some. It will suffer from root rot if its soil becomes too moist. Yarrow is low-maintenance, and some gardeners choose to grow it without fertilizer.
Yarrow is drought tolerant, meaning it can survive without irrigation for several weeks. However, it does need a moderate amount of water, and should be watered frequently – but not so much that the roots are permanently wet. Water yarrow at least 1/2 inch per week and check the soil moisture for signs of stress.
