Bee Nutrition and Forage :

Children enjoying the honey

Bee Nutrition and Forage: What Every Beekeeper Should Know.

Bees, like all living creatures, need a balanced diet to survive and thrive. Their primary nutritional sources are nectar, pollen, and water. Nectar provides the carbohydrates (energy) that bees convert into honey, while pollen supplies proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, essential for brood development and immune function. Water is equally critical—for hydration, regulating hive temperature, and diluting stored honey.

Strong bee colonies thrive on diverse forage—that is, a wide range of flowering plants available across the seasons. Bee-friendly plants include wildflowers, herbs like lavender and thyme, flowering trees, and native species suited to your climate. By planting a variety of blooms that flower in early spring, summer, and late autumn, beekeepers and gardeners alike help maintain strong, resilient colonies.

Modern monoculture agriculture, where vast areas are planted with a single crop, poses a serious threat. While such crops may offer a short-term nectar bounty, they lack pollen diversity, leading to nutritional stress and weakened immunity in bees. Promoting biodiverse landscapes, even in urban gardens or small farms, is essential for bee health and ecosystem balance.

When natural forage is scarce—early spring, drought, or after harvesting—supplementary feeding becomes important. Beekeepers provide sugar syrup (1 sugar:1 water in spring to stimulate brood; 2 sugars:1 water in fall for winter stores) and pollen patties to supplement protein. This help support colony growth but should never replace natural forage long-term.