Bees require carbohydrates for installation of new hives or to bolster winter stores; sugar water can provide them with these carbohydrates quickly.
Granulated sugar mixed with water mimics natural plant nectar very closely and can be measured using either cups or weight, before being heated in order to speed its dissolution faster.
Contents
1. Mix it with water
Bees can be fed using various methods. A common solution involves creating a sugar solution using water. Granulated white sugar dissolved in water simulates plant nectar and thus is what honey bees have been trained to collect as sustenance.
At its heart, batch cooking is economical. A 2 qt (2 L) jar works great for small batches while larger volumes may require a 5 QT (5 L).
No matter if it’s to revive an exhausted bee clinging to a flower or kickstart a package of new bees, an 1:1 sugar solution will do the trick. Not only does it mimic natural nectar flow but it can also encourage comb building. As fall approaches you can switch over to thick syrup (honey-like) for autumn feedings.
2. Make it in a jar
Feed your bees sugar water using a jar feeder – this container, the size and depth of a full-depth Langstroth frame, features an open top that sits within their super. A special float allows bees to access syrup without drowning!
Your feeder should contain equal parts of sugar and water, sometimes known as 1:1 sugar syrup. Use cups or weight to measure these quantities but don’t get too concerned with precise measurements.
If you find a tired and lethargic bee clinging to a flower, try giving her a spoonful of 2:1 sugar solution as soon as you notice her – this may revive her but is no replacement for proper bee maintenance and care; to save these creatures the best approach is preventing their exhaustion in the first place.
3. Make it easy for them to drink
Sugar water should only ever be used as an additional food source if nectar becomes scarce or unavailable.
Beekeepers commonly feed their bees a simple syrup composed of 2:1 sugar:water ratio as spring feed or when their honey stores become low. This ratio provides bees with an easy source of nourishment as it closely resembles their natural nectar source – flowers!
Some beekeepers utilize a “bee feeder”, which resembles a large glass jar with perforated lid and handle on top. This type of feeder is extremely convenient as it eliminates the need to measure sugar and water separately; replacing syrup without disrupting hive activity becomes simpler; but be mindful to place these far from hives to avoid attracting unwanted pests.
4. Make it at the right temperature
Sugar water is a mixture of white granulated sugar dissolved in water that emulates natural plant nectar, used as food supplement by bee colonies during times of increased nectar flow or when weather conditions prohibit bees from collecting nectar sources. Sugar water serves a similar function during times of hot and dry conditions when bee colonies struggle to collect nectar in enough quantities from sources.
Miner’s 1849 book “The American Bee Keeper’s Manual” details how bees fed sugar syrup produce more wax per pound than those fed honey, however without providing the exact ratios of sugar to water that he found optimal.
Feed your bees using a frame feeder, which plugs directly into the top of a hive. This method works particularly well in autumn and spring when humidity increases and nectar flow rates drop, making it easier for bees to liquefy sugar crystals. Just make sure any feeder container has a tight-fitting lid to avoid leakage or spillage!