Experienced beekeepers provide sugar water for bees in the spring or winter to help pollinators during food shortages. Even in urban areas, exhausted bees are not a rare sight because they find less nectar on the way back to the hive. However, in recent years, the sugared water method for tired honey bees has become a controversial topic. It would therefore make sense to find out whether this actually helps the insects or causes them harm. In addition, inexperienced hobby beekeepers could be better informed about how and when to make such bee food. Below you will find some tips and useful information that can help you.
Why put sugar water for bees at all?
The beneficial insects are a vital part of the ecosystem and for thePollination of a variety of flowering plantsresponsible. However, there is conflicting information about how and why to feed bees. While feeding bees with sugar water is a recommended method, feeding honey can be dangerous for pollinators.
There are also a few factors that need to be taken into account if you want to help bees in this way. For example, feeding honey to bees puts you at risk for a disease called foulbrood, which can be fatal to the insect's larvae. The bacterial spores contained in honey are harmless to humans, but could be fatal for entire colonies and honey bees if they infect the entire hive with the brood disease.
When and what should you feed bees?
In contrast to nectar and pollen, sugar water is logically not an optimal source of nutrition for bees and their larvae. This can also lead to the insects no longer pollinating nearby flowers, as the learned source means they will only rely on the bee food laid out. For this reason, it is very important to consider the period and type of feeding so that honey bees stay healthy.
In addition, this should definitely not be done regularly to feed bees in the garden or elsewhere. Using the right type of sugar is also important as cheap varieties lead to poor honey production and can ultimately be unfavorable for beekeepers. However, if you are considering supporting pollinators in this way, you might like the followingManufacturing stepsof sugar water for bees help keep the hives alive.
Provide sugar water for bees as a one-time aid
If you want to help exhausted bees make their way to their hive, there are a few simple steps you can follow. The first of these is to pay attention to certain symptoms. For example, if the insect is wet, you can try moving it to a sunny area. If it is exhaustion, the bee will appear lethargic and may have difficulty finding food. You should be able to estimate whether the insect is just resting or really starving. Use your sleeve, a sheet or a container to prevent insect bites especially if you are allergic.
- First, you should try to find a flower nearby to make it easier for the insect to access the natural food source.
- Then you should be patient and wait until the bee has rested. The average resting time for bees is about 30 minutes.
- Only then can you try offering the bee a sugar solution in a small spoon or bottle. To do this, you can dissolve two tablespoons of granulated sugar in one tablespoon of water.
- If the bee refuses to accept your offer, you should not try to force the insect. This will only make the situation worse.
When should you feed honey bees at the hive?
As with the steps described above, you should only put out sugar water for bees in individual cases. For many beekeepers, supplemental feeding is a contradictory method, although in certain situations it can keep colonies alive. An example of this is when the insects are just starting to build their hive. So you should give the bees food while they try to map the new area. Honey bees also need sugar syrup in the fall when the flowers are fresh from the nectar. Feeding bees sugar water in winter or early spring as an alternative food source could also be a salvation for the insects. Sugar water for bees in spring only makes sense when the flowers are not yet blooming and supplies in the hive are running low.
Use the right type of sugar and ratios for honey bees
Sucrose is a dominant sugar in nectar produced by flowering plants to attract pollinators. Cane sugar is therefore suitable for making sugar syrup for honey bees and can also be a cheaper option. However, do not use brown sugar as bees cannot process the molasses it contains. You should also consider the sugar water for bees ratio as an important factor in proper feeding. It's best to offer the insects a lighter sugar syrup in early spring. To do this, simply mix water and sugar in a ratio of 1:1 or in equal parts. This means you get a sugar solution that is closest to natural nectar.
In addition, the spring season is considered the breeding season for honey bees. The queen bee can therefore instinctively start laying eggs when she consumes a dose of the light sugar syrup. You can also achieve a thicker consistency similar to honey using a 2:1 ratio. To do this, mix 2 parts sugar with 1 part water to create a sweeter sugar syrup. However, this variant is more suitable for feeding in autumn because bees have to work the hardest during this period. They prepare the hive for winter and use more energy, which makes putting sugar water for bees directly on the hive sensible.
Use simple recipes and mix sugar water for bees
The bee food usually comes in liquid form, although you should keep in mind the two recommended ratios. Apart from the commercially available products, there are homemade recipes in which one can also use essential oils to feed bees. Apparently this can also promote the health of bees. However, you should do this carefully and only add small amounts of it. The two basic recipes you can use when making sugar water for bees are also the feeding method used by beekeepers. It involves mixing a percentage of water with a percentage of dry granulated sugar, and it doesn't matter whether you measure the solution by weight or volume.
- 1:1 Ratio Recipe – To make about 4 liters of sugar solution, you can combine about 10 cups of sugar with the same amount of water.
- Sugar water for bees in a 2:1 ratio – As you have already read, this recipe contains twice the amount of sugar. For example, you can dissolve 8 cups of sugar in 4 cups of water. In this case, it is best to use warm water so that the sugar can dissolve in it faster. However, it is not necessary to boil the sugar water for bees.
So it is only necessary and sensible to feed bees in certain situations. Avoid the mistake of placing insect feeders in the garden as this can have serious consequences. In this way you can, for example, interfere with the natural process of pollination. Try to pay attention to certain signs and do not feed bees when there are honey collectors in the hive. Instead, tryPlants suitable for pollinatorsto grow in the garden.
