Going into Winter, or any times of dearth for that matter, bees may require feeding if not strong and established. A general description of this would be a hive weighing around 100 pounds including equipment (per Dr. Joc Rawls, Phoenix, AZ). Plus a population of at least 25,000 bees. If your hive(s) fit this criteria it is possible to make it to the next NECTAR bloom without feeding. If your hive(s) do not meet this requirement and if you do not feed they will likely starve to death. That is if they do not get robbed out because they become weak.
When feeding syrup be cautious not to put the scent of the syrup right at the entrance. Do not spill any syrup. Do not use any stimulants in the syrup (such as Honey Bee Healthy, etc.). Use Robbing Screens.
If you had stored honey frames in your freezer for future use or have honey that you want to feed your bees I will be addressing this topic soon. I will also be adding a post about the styles of feeders with pros and cons.
USE:
Granulated sugar or white sugar
White sugar, chemically, is pure sucrose. Because nectar is predominantly sucrose (with some fructose, glucose and trace minerals) it is the closest to what mother nature provides to the bees. White sugar, also called granulated sugar or table sugar, is the most similar to nectar that we have available. This should be your number one choice in feeding your bees. Most beekeepers in Arizona feed a ratio of 1:1 as needed no matter the time of year.
OTHER TYPES OF SUGARS, the why's and why nots:
Agave nectar
Agave nectar is a derivative of the plant's core or pina, should not be fed to bees.
Aspartame
Aspartame, sold as Equal ® or Nutrasweet ®, are synthetic sweeteners that are not suitable for bees.
Brown sugar
Brown sugar is white sugar with up to 10% molasses added. The high percentage of molasses in both light and dark brown sugars means it should not be fed to bees.
Cane or beet sugar
Cane and beet sugars are pure sucrose. Sugar beets are a GMO product. Though GMO does not effect the sucrose as it is in the plant proteins.
Coconut and Palm sugar
Coconut and palm sugars are sap sugars high in mineral content and only 70-80% sucrose, and for these reasons should not be fed to bees.
Confectioners sugar
Confectioners sugar, or powdered sugar, cannot be fed to bees as a supplement however it is safe to use as a mite dusting powder or queen cage candy plug. Powdered sugar contains 3% cornstarch which is why it should not be fed on a regular basis but okay to use in special situations.
Demerara sugar
Demerara sugar is another large grain brown sugar. Again, it should not be fed to bees because of the molasses.
Drivert Sugar
Drivert sugar is a dry fondant sugar that has been agglomerated with 8% invert sugar. Invert sugar is a mix of glucose and fructose created by heating pure
sugar (sucrose) with water. In simple terms, it is 92% pure sugar (sucrose) with 8% glucose/fructose in powder form. Some people still will use this option, however, due to the heating of the sugar I do not recommend it as it may have some effects on gut health.
Evaporated cane juice
Evaporated cane juice results in a product with more nutrients than white sugar.
The remaining nutrients can result in dysentery.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is often fed to bees in the commercial application. HFCS is made by processing corn which results in a product that is predominantly fructose and dextrose. The corn used to create HFCS is GMO, could contain neonicotinoids, and contains no sucrose.
Maple Syrup
Pure Maple syrup is a tree sap and should not be fed to bees. Other "Maple Syrups" are man made usually using High Fructose Corn Syrup and ingredients not digestible by honeybees.
Organic sugar
Although organic sugar can be fed, a 2009 study showed that organic sugar has a higher ash content than cane sugar (0.03% ash in cane sugar vs 0.20% ash in organic). Bees are able to digest the lower ash sugar more easily. Thus organic sugar should NOT be a first choice when considering gut health.
Raw sugar
Raw sugar is minimally or unrefined white sugar, which has a small amount of molasses to give it the golden color. Raw sugar is unlikely to have enough molasses to negatively impact bees and is safe to feed. Due to the higher cost than white sugar, without any particular benefit, white sugar should still be the first choice.
Saccharin
Saccharin, commonly known as Sweet 'N Low ® is a synthetic derivative of coal tar. It should go without saying, it should not be fed to bees.
Stevia
Although stevia tastes sweet, it is a glycoside byproduct of pressing the leaves. Since it contains no sucrose, it is not appropriate for bees.
Sucralose
Sucralose, such as Splenda ® , is a chlorinated from of sucrose, where the chemical structure is changed. It is very different than sucrose, and should never be fed to bees.
Sugar cubes
Sugar cubes are pure granulated sugar, with no caking agents. Therefore, they can be fed to bees.
Turbinado sugar
Turbinado sugar is a large grain, brown colored sugar. As with many other sugars, the brown color is from molasses, and should not be fed to bees.
Xylitol
Xylitol, sorbitol, and Mannitol are sugar alcohols, and which are poisonous and not to be fed to bees.
Sources:
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/data/assets/p
sugar-to-honey-bees.pdf
http://scientificbeekeeping.com/fat-bees-
part-3/
https://www.beeculture.com/sugar-for-
bees/
https://honeybeesuite.com/is-organic-
sugar-better-for-bees/
http://bee-quick.com/reprints/sugar.pdf
When feeding syrup be cautious not to put the scent of the syrup right at the entrance. Do not spill any syrup. Do not use any stimulants in the syrup (such as Honey Bee Healthy, etc.). Use Robbing Screens.
If you had stored honey frames in your freezer for future use or have honey that you want to feed your bees I will be addressing this topic soon. I will also be adding a post about the styles of feeders with pros and cons.
USE:
Granulated sugar or white sugar
White sugar, chemically, is pure sucrose. Because nectar is predominantly sucrose (with some fructose, glucose and trace minerals) it is the closest to what mother nature provides to the bees. White sugar, also called granulated sugar or table sugar, is the most similar to nectar that we have available. This should be your number one choice in feeding your bees. Most beekeepers in Arizona feed a ratio of 1:1 as needed no matter the time of year.
OTHER TYPES OF SUGARS, the why's and why nots:
Agave nectar
Agave nectar is a derivative of the plant's core or pina, should not be fed to bees.
Aspartame
Aspartame, sold as Equal ® or Nutrasweet ®, are synthetic sweeteners that are not suitable for bees.
Brown sugar
Brown sugar is white sugar with up to 10% molasses added. The high percentage of molasses in both light and dark brown sugars means it should not be fed to bees.
Cane or beet sugar
Cane and beet sugars are pure sucrose. Sugar beets are a GMO product. Though GMO does not effect the sucrose as it is in the plant proteins.
Coconut and Palm sugar
Coconut and palm sugars are sap sugars high in mineral content and only 70-80% sucrose, and for these reasons should not be fed to bees.
Confectioners sugar
Confectioners sugar, or powdered sugar, cannot be fed to bees as a supplement however it is safe to use as a mite dusting powder or queen cage candy plug. Powdered sugar contains 3% cornstarch which is why it should not be fed on a regular basis but okay to use in special situations.
Demerara sugar
Demerara sugar is another large grain brown sugar. Again, it should not be fed to bees because of the molasses.
Drivert Sugar
Drivert sugar is a dry fondant sugar that has been agglomerated with 8% invert sugar. Invert sugar is a mix of glucose and fructose created by heating pure
sugar (sucrose) with water. In simple terms, it is 92% pure sugar (sucrose) with 8% glucose/fructose in powder form. Some people still will use this option, however, due to the heating of the sugar I do not recommend it as it may have some effects on gut health.
Evaporated cane juice
Evaporated cane juice results in a product with more nutrients than white sugar.
The remaining nutrients can result in dysentery.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is often fed to bees in the commercial application. HFCS is made by processing corn which results in a product that is predominantly fructose and dextrose. The corn used to create HFCS is GMO, could contain neonicotinoids, and contains no sucrose.
Maple Syrup
Pure Maple syrup is a tree sap and should not be fed to bees. Other "Maple Syrups" are man made usually using High Fructose Corn Syrup and ingredients not digestible by honeybees.
Organic sugar
Although organic sugar can be fed, a 2009 study showed that organic sugar has a higher ash content than cane sugar (0.03% ash in cane sugar vs 0.20% ash in organic). Bees are able to digest the lower ash sugar more easily. Thus organic sugar should NOT be a first choice when considering gut health.
Raw sugar
Raw sugar is minimally or unrefined white sugar, which has a small amount of molasses to give it the golden color. Raw sugar is unlikely to have enough molasses to negatively impact bees and is safe to feed. Due to the higher cost than white sugar, without any particular benefit, white sugar should still be the first choice.
Saccharin
Saccharin, commonly known as Sweet 'N Low ® is a synthetic derivative of coal tar. It should go without saying, it should not be fed to bees.
Stevia
Although stevia tastes sweet, it is a glycoside byproduct of pressing the leaves. Since it contains no sucrose, it is not appropriate for bees.
Sucralose
Sucralose, such as Splenda ® , is a chlorinated from of sucrose, where the chemical structure is changed. It is very different than sucrose, and should never be fed to bees.
Sugar cubes
Sugar cubes are pure granulated sugar, with no caking agents. Therefore, they can be fed to bees.
Turbinado sugar
Turbinado sugar is a large grain, brown colored sugar. As with many other sugars, the brown color is from molasses, and should not be fed to bees.
Xylitol
Xylitol, sorbitol, and Mannitol are sugar alcohols, and which are poisonous and not to be fed to bees.
Sources:
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/data/assets/p
sugar-to-honey-bees.pdf
http://scientificbeekeeping.com/fat-bees-
part-3/
https://www.beeculture.com/sugar-for-
bees/
https://honeybeesuite.com/is-organic-
sugar-better-for-bees/
http://bee-quick.com/reprints/sugar.pdf
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