What Do Honey Bees Eat? Nectar, Pollen, and More

Honey bees are vital pollinators, playing a significant role in ecosystems and agriculture. Their survival and colony health depend entirely on their diet. The foods they consume are collected and processed, providing energy, growth, and maintaining the hive’s complex social structure. Understanding what honey bees eat reveals the intricate relationship between these insects and their environment.

Nectar: Their Primary Energy Source

Nectar, a sugary liquid from flowering plants, serves as the honey bees’ main source of carbohydrates and energy. Worker bees collect it using a proboscis, storing it in a “honey stomach” before returning to the hive. Inside the hive, collected nectar is passed mouth-to-mouth among worker bees. Enzymes from their salivary glands break down complex sugars, like sucrose, into simpler ones such as glucose and fructose.

Bees deposit this partially processed nectar into honeycomb cells. To make honey, they fan it with their wings, evaporating excess water from 70-80% down to 18-20%. This dehydration, combined with enzymatic changes, preserves the nectar, creating honey. Honey serves as the colony’s primary long-term energy source, especially during winter or floral scarcity. Unique flavors, colors, and aromas of different honeys result directly from diverse floral sources.

Pollen: Their Essential Nutrient Supply

Pollen, a fine powdery substance from plants, provides honey bees with proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is the sole natural source of amino acids in their diet, fundamental for growth and development. Foraging bees collect pollen, packing it into “pollen baskets” on their hind legs, carrying it back to the hive as visible pellets.

Once in the hive, collected pollen is mixed with nectar and bee saliva, then compacted into honeycomb cells. This mixture undergoes lactic acid fermentation, transforming it into “bee bread.” This fermentation makes nutrients more digestible and preserves pollen for storage. Bee bread feeds developing larvae, supports young worker bees, and sustains the queen’s egg-laying capacity.

Water and Other Dietary Needs

Water is an important component of the honey bee diet, serving several functions within the hive. Bees use water for hydration. It also dilutes stored honey, making it easier to consume and for nurse bees to prepare liquid brood food for larvae. Water regulates the hive’s temperature through evaporative cooling, particularly during hot weather. Bees collect water from natural sources, including dew, puddles, and moist areas.

While nectar and pollen constitute their natural diet, beekeepers sometimes provide supplemental feeding to support colony health, especially during limited natural forage. This feeding often involves sugar syrup for carbohydrates when nectar is scarce, or pollen patties for protein and other nutrients when natural pollen sources are low. These supplements help ensure colony survival and productivity, distinct from naturally collected food sources.