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Buzz (the blog)

What do Honey Bees Eat or Drink? 

3/27/2013

13 Comments

 
Here are some things Honey Bees like to eat or drink:
  • Nectar- a high sugar liquid that plants produce. If you touch the center of a flower and get wet or sticky you probably found the nectar.
  • Pollen- This is what makes me sneeze in the summertime. Pollen is usually a yellow color, but sometimes it can be almost green or grey. Pollen is the powdery substance in the center surrounded by petals.
  • Water- On hot days beekeepers may set out water for their bees especially if they are not near a water source like a stream or pond.
  • Honey- Honey is dehydrated nectar. After bees have collected enough nectar to fill a cell, they dry it out. They can flap their wings to fan the nectar and get rid of any moisture. This helps them preserve their food for the winter or whenever they need it.
  • Sugar water-  If the bees have consumed all their honey and flowers have not started blooming  beekeepers give their bees sugar water. It is not the best food and doesn't have everything a bee needs to be healthy, but it will keep them alive until they can get nectar.
Picture
This beekeeper just added his bees to the hive. Since they have no honey they will start with sugar water in the jars. The beekeeper will have to come back and check on his jars to make sure his bees have enough to eat. 
13 Comments
TJ
3/29/2013 02:44:46 am

Fascinating! I never thought about them needing access to water. I guess it makes sense, just never thought about it. So cool!

Reply
savannah link
6/8/2014 02:14:15 am

hi i have a bee here she dosent fly because her wings a broken i dont want to hurt the bee or out am wondering wat i can do for her ive got sugar water wat else cud i do plz x

Reply
Barbara Norton
9/27/2014 01:44:19 am

What a wonderful website! Thank you so much! I am a home school teacher and your site has been so helpful! I wish you a very successful beekeeping adventure! I will spread the word about your blog.

Reply
yuhfjik
4/5/2017 06:05:09 pm

Reply
Danny Lam
1/26/2015 06:25:52 pm

Hello, I have a bee stuck to my clothes and now it is in my house. It is cold at night so I decided to keep her for now and I will somehow release it onto a flower tomorrow morning. I gave it water and sugar water but it doesnt eat. What can I do?

Reply
shadowcat
4/28/2020 07:36:51 am

it will eat have u stirred it?

Reply
j p
5/28/2015 05:58:06 am

How much a day of sugar water should bees eat I have two hives and they are eating a quart every two days and they are dealt. Close to a pond. This is my first year and im realy enjoying it

Reply
Patrick Martin
10/29/2015 11:00:06 am

I have been putting apple cores out on my porch and the bees love them

Reply
shadowcat
4/28/2020 07:35:41 am

smart idea

Reply
Sergey
12/20/2015 02:25:55 am

Hi I'm looking for a honey that is made of not sugar but of flowers nectar.if you have some I will buy it

Reply
E͠v͠a͠n͠ link
6/8/2019 12:20:22 am

T͠h͠a͠n͠k͠ y͠o͠u͠ t͠h͠i͠s͠ w͠e͠b͠s͠i͠t͠e͠ h͠a͠s͠ h͠e͠l͠p͠e͠d͠ m͠e͠ w͠i͠t͠h͠ s͠c͠h͠o͠o͠l͠

Reply
Shadowcat
4/28/2020 07:34:43 am

not good at all

Reply
shadowcat
4/28/2020 07:32:38 am

this is not helpful! I need this for school

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Amanda

    Staring at the dancing bees in an observation hive, it hits me. I love how these tiny creatures communicate. It looks like they're having fun dancing around while telling their sisters where to find some nectar.

    I created this site to share what I know about these amazing creatures such a tiny creature has such a complex way to carrying out its purpose. And it all looks so simple. It reminds me that God takes care of the smallest details as his creation dances.

    So here goes. Join me on an adventure with bees. I hope we can make learning as fun as the dancing bees informing their sisters of sweet nectar.

    Amanda's Sting Count
    2013- 6 stings
    2019- 0
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