Best Management Practices for Nutrition

Honey bees require food as an energy source.

Why is nutrition important to Honey Bees?

Vigorous well-nourished colonies are able to withstand bee diseases and parasites better than poorly nourished colonies.  Scientists have emphasized that malnutrition may be playing a key role in the decline of colonies due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).  Honey bees can suffer from a compromised immune system related to poor nutrition.

Natural Forage

-  Healthy bees require a diversity of natural pollen.

-  Placing bees on locations with abundant and diverse floral resources will help them stay healthy.

-  Locations vary in their carrying capacity, and experience will suggest optimum densities.

-  Placing too many bees in one location will result in inadequate floral resources, robbing, drifting and the spread of bee diseases and parasites. 

Supplemental Feeding

-  Forage can be limited in late summer and fall.  When floral sources are inadequate, feeding bees sugar syrup and pollen substitutes can improve colony survival and performance. 

-  Supplemental feeding is critical to build bees for early almond pollination by February 1st.

-  Provide protein pollen patties.

-  Pollen substitutes should have three (3) essential properties:

          1.  Consumable - honey bees should be readily able to eat and consume the supplemental feed;

          2.  Absorbable -  honey bees should be able to digest and absorb the supplemental feed, and;

          3.  Nutritious -  it should contain the necessary and vital ingredients for honey bee health.

-  Place pollen patties between brood boxes or on top of hive frames.

-  It is critical to provide supplemental feed when colonies arrive for almond pollination; dearth is a factor prior to and

   after bloom.

Water

-  Provide plentiful and abundant water.

-  Pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers may drift into water sources; locate colonies near accessible clean water.

-  Drought causes honey bee stress.  Work with your grower on identifying a potable water source for bees to avoid

   dehydration.

The Beekeeper's Goal

-  Provide bees a diversity of natural pollen.

-  When possible, locate natural forage for your bees.

-  Fall is a critical time to build bees for almond pollination.

-  Provide supplemental feed, especially protein, to build strong, 8-frame colonies by February 1st.

-  Water is just as important as food; keep your bees well-hydrated with clean water.