Michael Housel wrote: "Would adding alochol to the feeding in the fall
for the winter consumption help the bees live longer thur the hibernation
in the cold climates?
There is much to be read about Fall and Spring feeding in the BEE-L
Archives and other informed and respectable sources of beekeeping
information, far too many to mention here. Much work has been published in
journals and magazines regarding the feeding of supplemental additives to
honeybees. Lately queries about additives such as salt, alcohol, vinegar,
and starch have popped up on the BEE-L. You must bear in mind that we are
dealing with an insect, a simple insect with a rather simple digestive
system. IMO, such additives even of a conservative nature, have a
detrimental effect upon honeybees. Some of these additives will shorten
honeybee lives other additives will flat out kill them. I would only feed
my bees proven feeds such as syrup composed of crystallized sugar and
water, purchased 67% sugar syrup, or high fructose corn syrup, HFCS. Feed
sugar in the fall and either sugar syrup or HFCS in the spring and when
appropriate, pollen substitutes. Pollen substitutes and patties are of
benefit prior to naturally available sources of pollen. These are not
replacements for natural pollen and should be added to the hive a few
weeks prior to the availability of natural pollen. Again, you should not
add additives such as those mentioned above to pollen substitutes or
patties for the same reasons, shortened lives or an even faster mortality.
By the way, honeybees do not hibernate, much can be learned about the
clustering behavior by searching through the BEE-L Archives, various
beekeeping magazines, beekeeping books, and other respectable beekeeping
related sites on the Internet.
Regards,
Chuck Norton
Nortonfs Nut & Honey Farm
Reidsville, NC
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