Yes, bees can consume sugar, but it is a temporary and nutritionally incomplete substitute for their natural diet. Feeding sugar syrup is an intervention meant to support honey bee colonies during periods of scarcity or stress. Beekeepers supply sugar water as a quick source of carbohydrates to fuel the colony’s immediate energy demands. This practice is a form of colony management, often necessitated by the removal of honey or environmental factors, to prevent starvation. The goal is always to sustain the colony until natural nectar sources become available again.
Honey vs. Sugar Syrup: Nutritional Differences
The fundamental difference between natural honey and artificial sugar syrup lies in their biochemical complexity and nutrient density. Nectar, which bees convert into honey, is a complex solution containing sucrose, glucose, and fructose, along with trace amounts of micronutrients, enzymes, and organic acids. When bees process nectar, they add the enzyme glucose oxidase, which breaks down complex sucrose molecules and helps create hydrogen peroxide, giving honey its natural antimicrobial properties.
Sugar syrup, typically made from granulated white sugar, is almost pure sucrose and lacks these beneficial components, making it an “empty calorie” carbohydrate source. Bees must use more energy and their own enzymatic resources to convert the sucrose in the syrup into simple sugars. Colonies fed exclusively on sugar syrup produce stored food with lower levels of the protective compound hydrogen peroxide compared to those fed natural nectar or honey.
Safe Sugars and Toxic Ingredients
The purity of the sugar used for feeding bees is important, as many common household sweeteners are toxic. Beekeepers should use only pure, refined white granulated cane or beet sugar, which is nearly 100% sucrose and dissolves cleanly in water. Never boil the water once the sugar is added, as high heat can create toxic compounds detrimental to bee health.
Unrefined sugars, such as brown sugar, powdered sugar, and molasses, are harmful due to their high mineral and ash content. Bees cannot properly excrete these solids, which can lead to digestive distress and dysentery, particularly during the winter months when cleansing flights are impossible. High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is another problematic feed because its chemical composition can lead to the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a compound toxic to bees, especially if the syrup is stored at warm temperatures.
When Sugar Feeding is Necessary
The decision to feed sugar syrup is made in two scenarios: emergency rescue and colony management. For a single, exhausted bee, a tiny drop of sugar water (one part sugar to one part water) can provide the immediate energy needed to fly again. However, leaving a tired bee alone to rest is often the preferred intervention.
In beekeeping, feeding is a structured practice tailored to the colony’s needs and the season. A light syrup, mixed at a 1:1 ratio, is used in the early spring to stimulate the queen to lay eggs and encourage brood rearing. This ratio mimics the lower sugar concentration of early season nectar flow, prompting colony expansion. Feeding is also necessary when installing new bee packages, as they lack established food stores and need carbohydrates to build comb and begin raising brood.
When preparing a colony for the cold months, beekeepers switch to a heavy syrup, usually a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. This thicker mixture has a lower moisture content, making it easier for the bees to store and cap for winter consumption. This heavy feeding is typically done in the late summer or early fall when natural nectar sources have dried up, ensuring the colony has enough stored carbohydrates to sustain the cluster through the winter.
Potential Drawbacks of Artificial Feeding
While sugar feeding can prevent a colony from starving, it carries several risks that can undermine long-term colony health. The use of sugar syrup, particularly when left exposed, can stimulate “robbing” behavior, where bees from stronger colonies attack and steal the feed from weaker hives. This aggressive interaction increases the risk of spreading pests and diseases, such as mites and bacterial infections, between colonies.
Feeding too much syrup, especially the lighter 1:1 mix, can also lead to a phenomenon known as “honey-bound” or “nectar-bound,” where the bees fill the brood nest cells with syrup. This excessive storage reduces the space available for the queen to lay eggs, which slows the growth of the colony and can limit its population size going into winter. Replacing natural honey with a pure sucrose diet shortens the lifespan of individual worker bees and contributes to a weakened immune system due to the lack of diverse micronutrients.