{"id":1445,"date":"2023-12-05T17:59:13","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T22:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beekeepingfornewbies.com\/?p=1445"},"modified":"2023-12-05T17:59:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T22:59:14","slug":"nectar-dearth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beekeepingfornewbies.com\/nectar-dearth\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Summer Nectar Dearth?
(What To Do For Your Bees)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nectar is the sugary, sweet liquid produced by plants. Bees use nectar to make honey. It is also a primary food source for honey bees (along with pollen and honey) as the sugar in nectar provides carbohydrates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A nectar dearth is any time that plants slow down or completely stop nectar production<\/strong>. While winter is the most apparent dearth period, the hot and dry mid-summer (after spring’s burst of flowers and before fall plants kick in) is a typical time for nectar to become scarce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Summer nectar dearth” refers to a period during the summer months when there is a scarcity or shortage of nectar-producing flowers available for honeybees and other pollinators. Nectar is a primary food source for bees as they use it to produce honey, and pollen is collected as a protein source.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beekeepers need to be particularly attentive during a nectar dearth to ensure the health and well-being of their colonies. They may supplement the bees’ diet with sugar syrup or other artificial feeds to prevent starvation and maintain the strength of the hive until nectar sources become more abundant again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dearth is a stressful time for your bees. By mid-summer, your hive population will have increased dramatically. Without new nectar sources, the colony places increased demand on its existing stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lack of adequate food can weaken the colony. Brood production can drop. Population decline means fewer bees foraging when the fall nectar flow comes. Fall honey production may not be adequate to get the colony through winter. And the honey they do have can be robbed by other bees and wasps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This domino effect endangers the survival of your hive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a new beekeeper, learn to recognize the signs of a nectar dearth and how to deal with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognizing <\/strong>A Nectar Dearth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Look for signs that the nectar has stopped flowing and you\u2019ll be ready to help your colony get through it. Pay attention to the following indicators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lack of Flowers\/Rainfall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pay attention to your environment. You\u2019ll eventually get to know when different plants bloom and die off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grass starts to turn brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants in a vegetable garden stop producing new flowers and begin to set fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This usually coincides with periods of high heat and less rainfall in our area. We need to pay close attention to the signs of nectar scarcity in July and August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See our article 11 Best Plants For Honey Bees (And 5 To Avoid)<\/a><\/strong> for information on plants that help feed your bees during the year.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Robbing Activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When nectar is scarce, robber honey bees (along with bumblebees, wasps, yellow jackets, and others) will attempt to take advantage of weak hives and rob their food stores. One of your own colonies might steal from another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a newbie, robbing might look a lot like foraging bees just returning to the hive or young bees orienting themselves. Bees with pollen baskets are not robbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When bees are robbing, you\u2019ll see frenzied activity around the entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colony under attack will aggressively defend itself. You’ll see bees fighting and maybe even being dragged out of the hive. You may see an unusual number of dead bees around the entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for other types of bees or wasps trying to gain entry. I\u2019ve seen large bumblebees go into a hive only to be driven back by several of my honey bees. (You go, girls!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robbers often search around the sides and back of the hive, probing any crack for a possible entrance. The bees from the hive don’t do this because they know where the openings are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weak hives can be destroyed by robbing<\/strong>. Bees, including the queen, can be killed. Honey stores can be depleted entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you see robbing, take immediate steps to minimize it. Better still is spotting the dearth before the robbing so you can prep the hive before it happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See More About Robbing<\/a> <\/strong>below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aggressive Behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maybe aggressive behavior is the wrong term. I prefer to think of it as a more defensive behavior<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With nectar scarce and pressure on its food stores increasing, your bees may become a bit more challenging to be around. Your presence is no different than that of a robber bee. You are a perceived threat. (Don’t take it personally.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may be other reasons for this change in temperament. But in the heat of summer, dearth is a likely cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buzzing and Bearding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During a dearth, your bees may be louder than usual. Since nectar dearth tends to coincide with high temperatures, they may beard and fan outside the hive, trying to cool down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without much food to forage, they may hang around the hive rather than head off on a fruitless search for nectar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bees In Unusual Places<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During strong nectar flow, I love to stand by the apiary and watch the bees shoot out of the hive and head off to forage. They go off in all directions with a sense of purpose. If the light is right, I can follow them as they fly over treetops in the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At those times, we seldom see our bees on our back deck. During a nectar shortage (or drought), they are commonplace on our deck, looking for food and\/or water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bees will also be attracted to other foods they might normally leave alone. You may find them checking out your hamburgers, soda, or beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bees may be flying low in the grass, looking for food. You may see them visiting your hummingbird feeders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Nectar In The Comb<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While inspecting a hive, you may see that the bees have used up most, if not all, of their nectar stores. No nectar in the comb is a sign that they\u2019ve stopped finding new sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No New Eggs Or Larva<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lack of eggs or larvae could indicate that your queen is gone or not producing well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, during a nectar dearth, the queen may moderate her behavior to conserve energy and food stores. Also, the bees may be eating larvae for their protein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No New Wax Or Damaged Comb<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bees will only draw comb if they have a use for it. If the queen has quit laying, the bees are consuming existing stores, and nectar has stopped flowing, there is no need for new comb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frames may sit empty while the bees wait for nectar to become abundant again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robbers want to steal honey and get out of your hive alive. Unlike the home colony, they will not open capped cells neatly. Look for ragged edges of chewed comb or a lot of wax on the bottom board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bees Revisiting Flowers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bees will typically visit a flower, take what they can, and move on. If you see a bee returning to flowers again, it’s a sign of desperation in pursuing nectar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What To Do In A Nectar Dearth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reduce Or Eliminate Entrances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Help your bees fight robbers. Use the entrance reducer to create the smallest possible entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Close off upper entrances. Give the bees the fewest entry points to defend if your hive is strong. If your colony is weak, consider closing it up completely. Using screens will permit the flow of air for ventilation but prevent entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A robbing screen might be the best solution for your lower entry. Consider using one as an alternative to an entrance reducer. Check that\u2026don’t just consider it. Get one and use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See More About Robbing below for information on robbing screens.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Feed Your Bees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As always, feeding is a judgment call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your bees may store plenty of honey and nectar to make it through a dearth. However, you need to think about whether they’ll be able to replenish those stores in time for winter. Here in the northeast, where winters can be especially hard on the colony, we help out by feeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeding bees at this time can be good and bad. While your bees will welcome the supply, the scent of the syrup may attract robbers. Try to avoid spilling any syrup on or around the hive, which can make matters worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use 1:1 (or thin) sugar syrup. The bees will take this in place of nectar. Knowing when a dearth is likely in your area gives you time to make syrup in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See our article on Why, What, How & When To Feed Bee<\/a><\/strong>s<\/strong><\/a> for information about making syrup and different types of feeders. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\"Sugar
Sugar syrup preparation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Top
Top feeder jars<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Use an enclosed hive top feeder. An entrance feeder only serves to attract robbers to the entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some beekeepers recommend open feeding. Open feeding involves setting up large community feeding stations where bees get sugar syrup away from the hive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t open feed. We think it will only attract other insects and will likely set off robbing if placed too close to your hives. However, I get the appeal of it for beekeepers with large apiaries and the room to put feeders far from the hives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set Up Watering Locations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our hives are near a wetlands area with a small stream. The stream may run dry in the summer heat with a lack of rainfall. In addition to providing sugar syrup, setting up watering locations <\/strong>is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like feeders, try to set up any watering to minimize the risk of drowning<\/strong> to the bees. You can find lots of creative ways to provide water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though we\u2019re not fans of open feeding of sugar syrup, the same method (a large inverted bucket) can provide water. We\u2019ve put out large open buckets of water with wood floats for the bees to land on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An outdoor faucet set to drip lightly on a board or other hard surface can give the bees a place to hydrate. You can try the \u201cbeetainer\u201d we found here<\/a><\/strong> using soaker hoses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shallow saucers or bird baths filled with marbles or pebbles are great for providing water and landing spots for the bees. Check out this video for an example:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Build A Water Feeder For Bees, Bugs & Insects In 5 Minutes!<\/div><\/div>
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