Bees, vital pollinators, require various liquids to sustain themselves and their colonies. Their liquid intake is fundamental for individual health and the overall well-being of the hive, directly influencing a colony’s ability to thrive.
Nectar: The Primary Fuel Source
Nectar, a sugary liquid produced by flowering plants, serves as the main energy source for bees. Specialized glands within flowers, called nectaries, secrete this solution to attract pollinators.
Nectar primarily consists of water-soluble sugars, including fructose, glucose, and sucrose, though its exact composition can vary significantly between plant species. Foraging worker bees use their proboscises to extract nectar from flowers, storing it in their honey stomach.
During the flight back to the hive, enzymes, such as invertase, begin breaking down the complex sucrose sugars in the nectar into simpler forms like glucose and fructose. This enzymatic action is a crucial step in honey production. Once back at the hive, the forager bee transfers the nectar to younger house bees through a process called trophallaxis, where it is regurgitated and passed mouth-to-mouth. Each successive bee adds more enzymes, further transforming the nectar. The processed nectar is then deposited into honeycomb cells, where bees vigorously fan their wings to evaporate excess water, reducing the moisture content from around 80% in fresh nectar to typically less than 20% in ripe honey. This dehydration concentrates the sugars, creating honey, which provides the carbohydrates necessary for adult bee flight muscles, foraging activities, and maintaining hive temperature during colder periods.
Water: Essential for Survival and Hive Function
Water is fundamental for bees, serving multiple purposes. Individual bees require water for hydration; dehydration can rapidly lead to sluggishness and reduced foraging effectiveness.
Within the hive, water is essential for preparing liquid food for developing larvae and for diluting stored honey, making it easier for both adult bees and young to consume, particularly during winter or when honey has crystallized. Bees also use water for evaporative cooling to regulate hive temperature. On hot days, worker bees collect water, spread it over comb surfaces or brood cells, and fan their wings to evaporate it, cooling the hive.
Bees locate water from various sources, including dew, puddles, ponds, streams, and even leaky pipes. They often prefer “dirty” water rich in minerals, and they need shallow access points to prevent drowning. Specialized water carrier bees make numerous trips daily to meet the colony’s water needs.
Beyond Nectar and Water: Other Liquid Sources
When primary nectar sources are scarce, bees may seek out alternative liquid sustenance. One such source is honeydew, a sugary excretion produced by sap-feeding insects like aphids. Bees collect honeydew in a manner similar to nectar, processing it with enzymes, and can convert it into a type of honey known as honeydew honey or forest honey.
While a carbohydrate source, honeydew generally lacks protein and can have a higher ash content, making it less ideal as a primary winter food source. Tree sap, exuded from damaged trees, is another liquid bees may consume. While honey bees primarily collect tree resins to produce propolis, a sticky substance used for hive construction and sealing, they may also ingest sap directly. This occurs when sap provides accessible sugars, especially when floral nectar is unavailable.
Beekeepers sometimes provide sugar water as a supplemental food source, especially during periods of nectar dearth or to support new colonies. This syrup is typically made from sugar and water, with common ratios being 1:1 for spring brood rearing or 2:1 for winter stores. Sugar water serves as a carbohydrate source, mimicking nectar, but lacks the full nutritional profile of natural nectar and pollen.