What Do Honey Bees Eat?

• Pollen which provides protein, essential amino acids, lipids, sterols, vitamins, and minerals;
• Plant nectar for carbohydrates; and,
• Water for essential hydration, bodily functions, and thermoregulation of the hive.

Why Feed Honey Bees?

Your primary job as a beekeeper is tending to the needs of your livestock. Sometimes, natural resources are scarce or insufficient for your colonies'health and growth.

What Do You Feed Honey Bees?

Pollen

Pollen is mixed with nectar and bee secretions to produce “bee bread,” which goes through lactic acid fermentation. Rearing one larva requires 25–37.5 mg protein, equivalent to 125–187.5 mg pollen.

Trapping bee pollen

nother option is to trap your own bee pollen using pollen traps. Pollen traps are devices placed under or in front of hives, with holes just large enough to allow bees in but not large enough to let bees with pollen in.

Pollen substitute for bees

Pollen substitutes use various ingredients to replace the proteins, amino acids, and other nutrients derived from pollen. You can purchase pollen substitutes in dry form or patties.

Water

It is a good idea to provide water to bees during summer, with 0.1–0.2% edible salt added. (One teaspoon of salt to 1 gallon of water makes 0.11%. Use uniodinated salt if possible.) You must do this early (around mid-April in Michigan) so that bees will get used to your water source. Otherwise, they will establish their own source and go there instead of to yours. Provide some sort of floating device to keep bees from drowning. Keep replenishing the water source as needed. Never let it run dry or bees will find a new water source.

Conclusion

Bees obtain their essential nutrients from pollen and nectar, which are converted into bee bread and honey, respectively.

Sometimes, nature fails to provide enough pollen and nectar to assure your colonies’ well-being and survival. When that happens, consider helping out your bees with pollen substitutes and sugar and adding essential oils into the mix.

You can feed honey bees substitutes in various forms and with a variety of delivery systems. Try out some options and pick what works best for you and your bees, depending on the season and the situation.

This article is part of a series on managing beehives, a beginner’s guide to basic, year-round beekeeping task.