Bees are important pollinators in both natural ecosystems and agricultural crop production. The quality and availability of their diet directly affects their health and ability to perform their function. While bees thrive on a natural diet, environmental changes like habitat loss, drought, or seasonal dearth can deplete the floral resources they rely on. Providing supplemental food becomes a management practice to support colonies or individual bees through periods of scarcity. This assistance is a temporary measure, not a long-term replacement for the diverse nutrition found in nature.
The Bee’s Natural Diet: Nectar and Pollen
The natural diet of bees consists entirely of two primary floral resources: nectar and pollen. These two components serve distinctly different nutritional functions for the colony. Nectar is the carbohydrate source, a sugary liquid that provides the energy needed for flight, thermoregulation, and daily activity.
Pollen is the colony’s primary source of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. It is used for rearing the young, as nurse bees convert pollen into “bee bread” and glandular secretions to feed developing larvae. A diverse range of flowering plants is important because no single pollen type provides all necessary nutrients, making varied seasonal blooms the optimal food source.
Identifying Times for Supplemental Feeding
Supplemental feeding transitions the bee’s diet from natural forage to a formulated supplement, reserved for specific periods of scarcity. The most common scenario is a nectar dearth, an extended period where few or no nectar or pollen-producing plants are in bloom, often due to drought or extreme weather. This can occur in mid-summer or late fall, threatening the colony’s ability to gather stores.
Beekeepers employ feeding strategies during spring buildup to stimulate the queen to lay eggs, rapidly increasing the population ahead of the main honey flow. This stimulation is achieved by feeding a thin syrup that mimics the low-sugar concentration of early-season nectar.
Supplemental feed is also necessary when installing new colonies or packages of bees that require resources to begin building wax comb and rearing brood. For the general public, supplemental feeding might involve offering a single, exhausted bee a small amount of sugar water to quickly restore energy.
Preparing and Delivering Sugar Feeds
Sugar syrup is the most common form of supplemental carbohydrate feed, but it requires careful preparation to be safe and effective. The only recommended sugar is refined white cane or beet sugar, as impurities found in brown sugar, raw sugar, or molasses can be difficult for bees to digest and may cause dysentery. Never use honey from an unknown source, as it can transmit diseases to the colony.
The ratio of sugar to water is adjusted depending on the feeding goal. A thin syrup (1:1 ratio by weight or volume) is used in the spring to encourage brood rearing and comb building, closely mimicking natural nectar. A thicker syrup (2:1 ratio) is fed in the fall to help bees quickly store food for winter, as the reduced moisture content requires less energy for them to process and cap. The sugar should be dissolved in warm, not boiling, water, and the syrup must be cooled before being offered.
Granulated sugar should never be offered directly as a liquid feed substitute, as it can dehydrate the bees and cause them to starve. When feeding liquid syrup, use specialized feeders placed inside the hive or with small access points to prevent drowning and reduce the risk of attracting pests or triggering robbing behavior. For winter feeding in cold climates, beekeepers switch to solid sugar forms like fondant or candy boards, which are easier for the bees to consume when clustered.
Protein, Water, and Other Nutritional Needs
Beyond carbohydrates, bees require protein and fat for growth and development, provided through pollen substitutes. These supplements, often sold as pre-made patties or dry powder, contain a balanced blend of protein sources, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Pollen patties are used by beekeepers in late winter or early spring to boost brood production before natural pollen is available, or during a summer dearth to maintain population growth.
Patties are placed directly on the top bars of the brood frames for easy access. The need for clean, accessible water is important, as bees use it to dilute stored honey for consumption and to cool the hive. A suitable water source for both managed colonies and solitary bees is a shallow dish or tray filled with pebbles, moss, or corks to provide safe landing spots and prevent drowning.