Sugar water provides essential liquid food during weather-prevented foraging and should also be used to feed newly installed packages and boost comb building activity in overwintering hives.
As part of spring preparations, it is recommended to create a 1:1 syrup mixture from white sugar and water, measuring it by weight rather than volume.
Contents
1. Water
Artificial nectar, also known as sugar water mixture, is fed to bees during periods when there is insufficient real nectar available for them to feed on. Different mixes may be required at various points throughout the year to encourage brood rearing or other needs of their colony.
White sugar and warm water are the ideal ingredients to combine for feeding bees a nutritious syrup meal, while some beekeepers add lemongrass oil and spearmint oil as additional preventative measures against mites and fungus growth and to promote better overall bee health.
Some beekeepers feed dry sugar as a supplement to artificial syrup they offer their colonies, but weak or malnourished bees may not be able to consume this form of food, leading to their death from starvation. Furthermore, low food stores could reduce strength needed to forage enough water needed for ingestion of dry sugar; so only use as emergency feed.
2. Sugar
Sugar syrup is used to feed bees, with various ratios of sugar-to-water being preferred in different seasons. A 1:1 mixture is typically preferred during spring for encouraging brood rearing and nectar flow while 2:1 mixes help promote comb building as well as store food reserves for winter survival.
Sugar should be plain white granulated sugar; not molasses, sorghum, fruit juices or confectioner’s sugar as these contain impurities that could potentially cause dysentery in bees. Before feeding to bees, its temperature must be brought down to room temperature before being mixed into syrup and fed directly.
To prepare sugar syrup, simply dissolve sugar in hot water until clear and stir continuously until everything has dissolved completely. Use commercial feeders, pail feeders or fondant molds (see this article for details) or feed from a jar with clean and tightly sealed lid; punch or drill 6-8 small holes using framing nails so bees can access their share without it escaping out the top.
3. Beeswax
Beeswax is an ester of various long chain fatty acids and is an easily flammable natural compound with many industrial uses, from manufacturing candles and sealing jars, to food preparation and cosmetic use, leather preservation, wooden handles preservation and sewing thread preservation.
Beekeepers need to feed their colonies regularly during spring and early summer to promote brood-rearing and ensure enough nectar collection from weather conditions that prevent collecting. Furthermore, newly installed packages of bees require extra sugar water in order to build comb and create their hive.
To create sugar syrup, mix equal parts of granulated sugar and water together in a container. You may use either a measuring cup or scale to determine the ideal ratio between water and sugar. Boiling this mixture isn’t necessary; preferring liquid-like consistency is ideal. Adding Pro Health as a feeding stimulant could enhance results even further!
4. Nutrients
Bee sugar water composition depends on the time of year; light syrup requires a 1:1 weight ratio between sugar and water (not volume ratio).
Bees fed this mixture will produce more wax and build more comb, as well as increase brood rearing. This type of syrup should be used during spring to help the colony kick-start production and get its production underway faster.
Heavy syrups contain a 2:1 weight ratio between sugar and water, simulating honey more closely, encouraging bees to lower their stores into honey moisture range to prevent future fermentation in autumn.
Sugar water mixes can be used in either entrance feeders or top feeders; just ensure the temperature of the syrup remains above 50 degrees to allow bees to safely consume it. You should discontinue feeding when your beehive shows signs of having enough forage or when you install honey supers.
