Sugar syrup is an integral component of beekeeping, serving both to replenish hive stores when an beekeeper harvests too little honey, as well as encouraging comb building.
This recipe mixes equal parts granulated sugar and water in an approximate 1:1 ratio, so don’t fret if the measurements don’t exactly align.
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It’s a natural food
Sugar syrup provides bees with energy and stimulation of brood rearing and comb building activities, while providing nutrition during times when there is no natural nectar flow – especially important during spring and fall when bees work to ready their hives for winter.
To create sugar syrup, it’s necessary to combine granulated white sugar with water according to the appropriate ratio for each season. Never boil the mixture as this changes its chemical structure and becomes indigestible to bees.
Some beekeepers incorporate essential oils into their sugar syrup in order to protect their hives from mites and fungus, providing extra nutrition to their bees in turn. Essential oils come in liquid form and should be added by either weight or volume to the sugar syrup in their sugar syrup solution. They can even be mixed in with pollen patties for extra nutritional support for bees.
It’s a source of energy
Sugar syrup provides honey bees with energy and helps them recover from winter losses. Beekeepers usually feed sugar syrup during spring to encourage brood rearing and increase weight in their hives; this is particularly important when giving new packages of bees, which may not have stored much honey from previous years.
However, many beekeepers are concerned about the level of 5-hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde (HMF) present in sugar syrup and would like to decrease it through either using no-cook candy boards or by adding essential oils directly into their sugar solution (5).
To create sugar syrup, pour granulated sugar into a container filled with water until it reaches a marked line on its side, add hot water, and stir to dissolve the sugar. Fill up hive feeders or place the syrup in an upside-down tin or mason jar feeder; this allows you to monitor bee food supply without opening your hive and keeps bees from drowning!
It’s a source of protein
Beekeepers commonly feed their bees sugar syrup either to stimulate rapid spring honey production, or ensure enough honey stores for winter. While different formulas exist for making syrup, the most widely accepted one-part sugar to two parts water ratio seems to work best, though there may be alternative approaches that work just as effectively.
When making syrup, it is vitally important that very warm water be used so that sugar crystals dissolve easily. Stirring frequently also assists, especially if using large containers; marking levels on containers allows bees to quickly find their sweet treats!
Many beekeepers add citric acid to their syrup to enhance its quality, mimicking the inverted sugars found in honey for easier bee digestion. Amazing Bees suggests adding multivitamins for enhanced bee health.
It’s a source of water
Bees require water in the form of syrup to survive when nectar or honey production drops off, especially during times when there is not enough nectar or honey available to them. Sugar syrup provides both protein and is often supplemented with pollen to further supplement bee nutrition (4)
Sugar to water ratios typically used in commercial beekeeping can range between 1:1 and 2:1, as it is easy to measure with either cups or weight. Adjustments to suit various conditions, and to prevent freezing of the sugar water can also be made if necessary.
Be sure to provide enough access for bees to access their syrup without drowning and using a hive feeder or division board can ensure this. Ideally, place the feeder several yards from the hive, or feed directly from an upside-down tin or jar placed inside their hive which keeps warm temperatures while deterring potential robbers.
