Change the sugar water frequently or when cloudy to ensure bees have access to clean and nutritious food sources. Here’s a guide on making sugar water for bees with helpful tips!
If you see a bee that appears exhausted or stuck to a flower, don’t panic – chances are it’s either resting or already deceased.
Contents
1. Heat the water
In times of nectar dearth, bees require sugar water as a temporary fix until more honey can be produced. This keeps their vital functions operating and allows them to continue producing honey production.
Sugar provides bees with an energy source they can quickly utilize and utilize quickly as food source. It’s also a quick and effective way to feed them something to snack on!
Some beekeepers opt for heating their water to dissolve sugar crystals more efficiently; although this step isn’t essential, it may prove helpful. Others add chlorine bleach to help kill off any potential harmful bacteria and ensure bees remain healthy and happy.
However, boiling sugar water could alter its chemical composition and render it indigestible to bees. Instead, only heat enough water to bring it to a simmer if boiling becomes necessary; otherwise be sure to stir regularly so all sugar crystals dissolve within minutes of being brought to the boil if you decide otherwise. Once cool enough to drink from, feed this treat to bees!
2. Add the sugar
Sugar water is essential to helping new bees start building their nest and producing wax production, and also serves as a feeding supplement to encourage bees to produce honey.
There are various recipes for creating sugar water for bees, but one basic approach involves mixing equal parts of dry granulated sugar with equal parts water. An optimal ratio would be one part sugar to one part water; however, you may change this according to your needs.
Some people like to boil their water before adding sugar in order to kill any bacteria and extend its shelf life before fermenting and attracting bees and insects. Others opt not to boil their sugar water at all – it all depends on your personal preferences and what kind of feeder is being used.
3. Let it cool
Sugar water requires the correct ratios. While 1:1 sugar water may suffice in spring and summer feedings, for fall and winter use it’s wiser to switch up with 2:1 as they will help your bees adjust more effectively to colder climates.
Warm water helps sugar dissolve more efficiently, decreasing its chance of clumping or crystallization, as well as providing natural nectar sources when nectar sources are limited. Finally, using sugar water should only be done when nectar sources become scarcer.
Social media posts about feeding an exhausted bee sugar water are common. Unfortunately, doing this can make the bee sick or even kill it; if a bee appears lethargic or is clinging onto a flower for dear life it likely has reached the end of its life, and feeding it with sugar water won’t revive it; for best results place them in an external feeder (3)
4. Place it in a jar
If you don’t already own one, create one easily by punching 6-8 very small holes into the lid of a canning jar or similar container containing sugar water and making this your bee feeder. Bees will enter without opening it while your sugar water stays contained inside!
Make a batch large enough for feeding bees during spring and fall by using at least a 2 quart (2 liter) container; if feeding wintertime, consider using something 5 quart (5 l).
Add Thymol and Surgical Spirit for added mold protection: it will prevent fermentation while also deterring Varroa mites and Tracheal mites.
