I agree with Murray McGregor, AND:
 
I feel bees need pollen supplement for a jump start on brood rearing in the
spring and sugar surup/candy feeding to prevent starvation late winter early
spring if they are low on honey stores.  The bees will dump the pollen
supplement when natural pollen becomes available.  From what I've seen any
sugar fed to the bees is used regardless of what else is brought in by field
bees.  One exception, I have seen the bees will dump dry sugar when nectar is
available.
 
I just made up sugar patties (Bee Candy) to get the bees over the Feb/Mar hump
safely.  I know that supplemental sugar feeding "will help them thrive."
Without it (sugar), if there's no feed they will die.  I don't see how it
could BEE simpler.
 
I also treat with TM10 in extender (grease) patties early spring and late
fall.  Early spring because hives are at their weakest.  The late fall because
robbing can happen after frost and the nectar flow stops, medicating helps
prevent the spread of anything that could be brought in from another
neighborhood colony.  Also without the mite strips added into the annual
formula there may not be any bees in the spring to worry about.
 
Sugar feeding and bee disease resistance, "if it keeps them alive they can
build up" when natural food products are available.  "They can't build up if
their dead."
 
John
CT