Why bees are fed with sugar: what is it for and what kind of honey will it be

Feeding bees with honey is quite rare. It is much better to leave the feed product in the combs and, if necessary, install them in the nests. If this is not possible, other substances must be used. At the same time, not every beekeeper knows exactly why they feed the bees with sugar. This type of food is used only if other options are not available.

Why bees are fed sugar

Most beekeepers try to avoid feeding insects with sugar syrup. However, sometimes it is not possible to do without it. At the same time, the goals of feeding differ depending on the season:

1. Feeding in the spring. At this time, bee colonies are developing rapidly and need a lot of food. Often in the spring there is a situation where there is no bribe. The reason may be damp and cold weather. In this case, the bees need to be provided with the right amount of food. To do this, you can use frames with honey or sugar syrup. It is worth noting that insects will eat this food long before the start of the main honey collection. Therefore, you should not be afraid that sugar will get into the beekeeping product.
2. Feeding in autumn. At this time, bee colonies are preparing for wintering. To do this, they need a certain amount of food - honey and bee bread. Sometimes beekeepers pump out all the collected honey, and in the fall they give the insects sugar syrup. His bees are eaten before the start of the main honey collection. In this case, sugar does not get into honey.
3. Feeding during the honey harvest. In such a situation, under natural conditions, there is a bribe, however, beekeepers do not go to the place of honey collection or, under the influence of natural factors, the bees cannot collect nectar.At the same time, insects have to be fed to keep them alive. In such a situation, the bee product can be counterfeited.

What kind of honey will this make

When insects are fed sugar, they produce low-quality honey, which differs significantly in appearance and taste from the natural product.

Sugar mass is characterized by the following features:

• bad taste;
• a faint aroma that looks like old honeycombs;
• cloudy and gelatinous consistency;
• lack of pollen in the composition;
• high granulated sugar.

It is possible to determine falsification only in the laboratory. A fake product usually has fairly low bactericidal properties and contains a minimum of active ingredients. At the same time, there is practically no therapeutic effect.

Feeding bees with sugar syrup is not recommended. However, sometimes it is not possible to do without it. At the same time, adding the product to the diet of insects negatively affects the quality of honey.

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