Do bees eat aphids? This common question arises from observing both insects in garden environments. While bees and aphids may be found near each other, their relationship is not one of predator and prey. Bees do not consume aphids.
The Bee’s Diet: What They Really Eat
Bees primarily rely on plant-based food sources for their nutrition. Nectar, a sugary liquid produced by flowers, serves as their main carbohydrate source, providing the energy needed for flight and hive maintenance. Bees collect nectar using their long tongues and store it in a special honey stomach before returning to the hive. There, it is processed into honey, a stored food supply for the colony.
Pollen, a key part of a bee’s diet, provides essential proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals for growth. Worker bees, especially young ones, consume much pollen, sometimes called “bee bread,” to produce royal jelly for feeding larvae and the queen. As herbivores, bees eat only plant materials.
The Aphid Connection: Honeydew
An indirect relationship exists between bees and aphids through a substance called honeydew. Aphids are small insects that feed on plant sap, which is rich in sugar but low in protein. To obtain sufficient protein, aphids consume much sap, excreting excess sugar as honeydew. This sticky, sweet waste product is then deposited on plant surfaces.
Bees are attracted to honeydew due to its high sugar content. They collect it as a substitute or supplement for nectar, especially when traditional floral nectar sources are scarce, such as during late summer or drought conditions. Bees process honeydew similarly to nectar, converting it into a darker, more viscous “honeydew honey.” Bees collect honeydew as a foraging activity, but do not consume the aphids.
Aphid Predators: Who Really Helps in the Garden?
While bees do not eat aphids, several other beneficial insects prey on them, helping control aphid populations in gardens. Ladybugs, both adults and larvae, are well-known aphid predators. A single ladybug can consume up to 50 aphids daily, with larvae often eating more.
Lacewings are another group of effective aphid predators. Their larvae, called “aphid lions,” have voracious appetites and can devour hundreds of aphids during development.
Hoverflies also help control aphids. Adult hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen, but their larvae are effective predators of aphids and other soft-bodied insects. A single hoverfly larva can consume up to 400-500 aphids before pupating. These predators help maintain a natural balance in garden ecosystems.