The key to raising bees is to feed them the right kinds of foods. Bees need food that is rich in vitamins and minerals. In addition to this, they also need food that can help them fend off pests and mites.
Contents
Pollen patties
Pollen patties are a great way to help your bees get an extra nutritional boost during the cold months. They also help build up a strong colony.
The bees need to get enough protein to feed their brood. A pollen patty provides a convenient and easy-to-make alternative to a powdered supplement.
You can make pollen patties yourself from just three ingredients: granulated sugar, water and pollen. If you want to add a little extra nutrition, you can include a dried egg or a vitamin.
Bees naturally forage pollen, but a good supplement can encourage the bumblebees to start making a lot of brood. The best pollen is the one that is free of mold and stachyose.
You can buy a commercially available product called Honeybee Healthy. It comes in a 1:1 sugar syrup. Add a couple drops to your pollen patty.
Another option is to make your own using the simple ingredient: cane sugar. Combine the granulated sugar with water and optional essential oils.
Sugar syrup
Sugar syrup for bees is a good way to give the bees a little help before winter. In addition, it also helps keep the bees well fed throughout the cold season. However, you should make sure to prepare the right food for your bees.
In general, the most important thing to remember is that it is best to feed your bees in small portions. Bees can be easily overwhelmed by a large amount of sugar. Hence, it is best to limit the amount of syrup you feed.
Aside from the obvious, there are several other things to consider when feeding your bees. For example, do not forget to clean out your hive before beginning. Also, bees may reject sugar water when honey is available.
A good rule of thumb for preparing syrup is to mix about one part granulated white sugar to two parts water. You can add pollen and other ingredients for extra nutrients, such as lecithin. It is best to process your sugar syrup at an ambient temperature of 20 degrees.
Pollen-bearing plants
Pollen-bearing plants are an essential part of a bee’s diet. These plants provide the protein, carbohydrates and fats necessary for the bees to build strong bodies and develop young bees.
Depending on the pollen source, the protein content can range from 2.5% to 61% of its dry weight. Bees need protein for a variety of reasons, but most importantly for brood development.
A honey bee colony collects 57 kg of pollen each year. One worker bee can carry about 35% of the bee’s body weight in pollen. The bees then transfer the pollen from the stamen to the stigma.
Pollen is a powdery substance that contains a mixture of water, starch, reducing sugars and plant sperm. It is also rich in amino acids and protein. Amino acids are a type of protein that bees need for growth and development. They are primarily composed of phenylalanine, isoleucine, threonine and valine.
Honey bees collect pollen from many different plant species. They have special hairs that help them pick up the pollen and transfer it to their pollen baskets.
Control pests and mites
Using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to beekeeping is an important way to keep your bees safe. However, there are a few different types of methods available, and you must know which ones are right for your hives.
The first type of method is called cultural controls. This involves selecting locations for your bees that have good drainage and sunlight. They should also not be overcrowded.
Chemical control is another common method of mite management. One option is to use oxalic acid, a naturally occurring compound. It should not be used alone, as it can be harmful to bees.
Other chemical methods include coumaphos, an insecticide. However, it has been shown that mite populations have become resistant to coumaphos, and this treatment may not be effective for years.
Mites are the most common enemies of honey bees. Several viruses are transmitted by these mites. Some strains of bees are more susceptible than others to the spread of these viruses. In addition, the bees themselves can become susceptible to pathogens in the environment if they are weakened.
