Feeding Bees Edward P. Pieters, Ph.D.

WHY? – save colony (fall, winter or early spring) – stimulate colony brood rearing (early spring) – get new colony (pkg, nuc, swarm) started – administer medications – assist w/ queen rearing/drone production – Help with drawing foundation – sample for mites (powdered sugar) – help make inspections easier Feeding sugar Feeding is never easy

Most sugars appropriate – granulated cane/beet sugar or high fructose cane syrup (HFCS) preferred, fondant Avoid dairy sugars of lactose/galactose Sugar substitutes not useful – not sweet for bees Some beekeepers seek to avoid genetically modified sugar sources (most beet sugar is GM) Avoid contaminated sugars (starch/flavorings) especially for fall and early spring feeding Can feed dry, as candy, syrup (mixed 1 to 1 or heavier for fall storage) or purchase as syrup Cream of tartar addition not necessary but some like to use supplements such as Honey-Bee-Healthy (for high sugar levels) Feeding sugar

but also... in dry form in candy form as fondant as powdered sugar ♦ As sugar syrup

Use of jar/can/plastic bag at top bars How to Feed sugar - internally

Use of division board feeder How to Feed sugar - internally

Use of hive top feeder How to Feed sugar - internally Courtesy Brushy Mountain Bee Supply With plastic floats

Fondant, sugar cake, plastic bag How to Feed sugar - internally

How to Feed sugar – dry or as candy or pour into comb Candy Board

Use of jar/can on top of hive – hole drilled through cover for bee access How to Feed sugar - externally

How to feed sugar – entrance feeder

Feeding honey Never! except when needed! and you know source!

Supplying water One – of many – means to supply water to bees

Feeding protein Pollen supplement – Pollen substitute

Feeding protein Commercial pollen substitutes

Feed-lot feeding method Feed-lot sugar syrup feeding too!