For bees, you typically use either a 1:1 sugar-to-water ratio (by volume or weight) for stimulating spring growth and comb building, or a thicker 2:1 ratio (sugar to water) for winter stores and emergency feeding to provide dense energy, with the 2:1 mix being less stimulative and better for long-term storage. Always use plain white granulated sugar, dissolve it in hot (not boiling) water, and let it cool completely before feeding to bees to prevent fungal issues and digestion problems, notes Ecrotek Beekeeping Supplies and Agriculture Victoria.
I always recommend that you use a 1:1 (one to one) mixture of sugar to water ratio. You will find this as the preferred concentration with most beekeepers. WHAT TYPE OF SUGAR? I buy my sugar in bulk as it saves money. If you are running two or more hives, I highly suggest that you do as well.
The "3 feet, 3 miles rule" is a beekeeping guideline for moving hives: move them less than 3 feet (so they find the new spot easily using landmarks and scent) or more than 3 miles (so they're forced to reorient to a completely new landscape). Moving them an intermediate distance (e.g., 50 feet to 2 miles) confuses forager bees, causing them to return to the old, empty location and get lost.
The 7/10 rule in beekeeping is a guideline for when to add a new box (super) to a hive, suggesting you add it when bees have built comb, brood, or stored honey on 7 out of 10 frames in the current box, indicating they need more space and preventing congestion, which can lead to swarming. This proactive expansion supports the colony's growth, reduces stress, and maintains natural hive behavior, but it's also important to consider factors like time of year and overall hive health, not just frame count.
Homemade 2:1 bee syrup recipe
While generally, you'd make a 2:1 bee syrup by mixing two parts sugar to one part water — for instance, two pounds of sugar to one pound of water — this method takes away the need to weigh and measure.
For late winter or early spring feeding, make a 1:1 syrup using 1 pound of water (2 cups) to 1 pound of sugar. If feeding in the fall (if not enough honey was left on the hive after the honey flow), make a 2:1 syrup using 2 pounds of sugar per pound of water.
Varroa Mites are the #1 enemy of honey bee and beekeepers around the world. These external parasites feed on the blood of adult honey bees, and reproduce on honey bee pupae. They can considerably weaken individual bees, and often vector viruses and other pathogens between bees.
Simply incorporate scents that humans find pleasant and bees find repulsive. Some of these off-putting fragrances are peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, and thyme.
Having a colorful dot on the back of her thorax can make it easier to locate and identify your queen. The other reason to have a marked queen is that you know that a particular queen present in the hive is exactly the same one as before — and not her daughter.
You aren't required to have a license to keep bees in the UK. Often, local landowners will give you permission to put bees on their property. If you're looking to keep bees on an allotment you should check with your allotment association or local council as they often have specific restrictions.
Follow these October beekeeping tips to keep your bees safe and healthy and make the most of the fall season.
Think all bees look alike? Well we don't all look alike to them, according to a new study that shows honeybees, who have 0.01% of the neurons that humans do, can recognize and remember individual human faces.
Bounce & Slide
But no matter what the hive style, I always bounce or slide the hive components as I put them back together. When you lower a frame back into the hive, for example, do so slowly and as you get close to making contact with the box, gently bounce the frame up and down so any bees in the way can move.
It's important to keep in mind that 1:1 sugar syrup can ferment quickly in the Florida heat, so it's best to portion the amount of syrup you provide to only what the bees can consume within 3-5 days. Overfeeding can lead to spoilage and may harm the colony.
One part sugar to one part water (1:1)
1:1 is the most common type of syrup used in American bars (but even in America, there is a growing trend towards the use of 2:1 syrup).
Continue feeding until the bees stop taking the food, indicating that they have enough reserves for winter. Beekeeping is a year-round commitment, and fall feeding is a crucial part of ensuring the well-being and survival of your honeybee colonies.
Avoid darker colors such as black, brown, and red. These colors may make you resemble a bear or skunk, in their eyes, which are the predators of bees. You might wonder why that applies to the color red, but unlike humans, bees cannot see the longer-wavelength, red part of the light spectrum.
The next male honey bee to mate with the queen will remove the previous endophallus and eventually lose his own after ejaculation. Male honey bees are only able to mate seven to 10 times during a mating flight, and after mating, a drone dies quickly, as his abdomen rips open when his endophallus is removed.
White clothing reflects sunlight rather than absorbing it, helping beekeepers stay cool while working under the sun. Beekeeping often involves long hours outdoors, especially in warmer months. Dark-colored suits would absorb heat, making the experience much hotter and more uncomfortable.
The 7/10 rule in beekeeping is a guideline for when to add a new box (super) to a hive, suggesting you add it when bees have built comb, brood, or stored honey on 7 out of 10 frames in the current box, indicating they need more space and preventing congestion, which can lead to swarming. This proactive expansion supports the colony's growth, reduces stress, and maintains natural hive behavior, but it's also important to consider factors like time of year and overall hive health, not just frame count.
Eucalyptus Oil:
It's often used by placing eucalyptus leaves in the hive or by using a diluted eucalyptus oil solution. Moderation: As with other strong-scented oils, use eucalyptus oil in moderation to avoid overwhelming the bees.
Bees and wasps are repelled by the following plants, most of which have strong herb or mint smells:
It is not necessary to kill these animals as their effect is minor. The most significant tropical predators to be avoided are ants, hornets and wasps, and the honey badger. Ants can be especially damaging to honey bees in the tropics and can destroy entire colonies very quickly.
USDA research points to viruses spread by pesticide-resistant mites, indicating a worrying trend. U.S. beekeepers had a disastrous winter. Between June 2024 and January, a full 62% of commercial honey bee colonies in the United States died, according to an extensive survey.
Although wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets look nasty, bees are far more dangerous. Bee stings contain more venom than the other insects, and bees are more likely to sting. A person is 42 times more likely to die from a bee sting than a poisonous snake bite.