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Timing supplemental feeding of honey bees for improved crop pollination

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Authors

Bob Sheesley
Bernard Poduska

Publication Information

California Agriculture 23(10):14-15.

Published October 01, 1969

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Abstract

THE VALUE OF A CORRECTLY TIMED supplementary feeding of honey bees with natural pollen, or with a combination of drivert sugar and natural pollen, has been demonstrated in Fresno County during four field-scale experiments. Each of these experiments included 60 bee colonies which were rented for crop pollination of almonds and alfalfa seed during 1968 and 1969. The provision of a pollen and sugar source two and a half to three weeks prior to the occurrence of the first natural bloom in the area caused a rapid increase in the queen bee's egg laying activity. A 2-lb feeding of drivert sugar and a 1 per cent pollen was adequate to maintain the rapidly growing colony population for the three weeks prior to natural bloom. The timing of the stimulant feeding is important, since it takes 21 days for a brood cycle of worker bees to mature.

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Author notes

Financial assistance was received from Hy-Queen Research Inc., Fresno County Pure Seed League, and California Almond Growers Exchange.

Timing supplemental feeding of honey bees for improved crop pollination

Bob Sheesley, Bernard Poduska
Webmaster Email: bjnoel@ucanr.edu

Timing supplemental feeding of honey bees for improved crop pollination

Share using any of the popular social networks Share by sending an email Print article
Share using any of the popular social networks Share by sending an email Print article

Authors

Bob Sheesley
Bernard Poduska

Publication Information

California Agriculture 23(10):14-15.

Published October 01, 1969

PDF  |  Citation  |  Permissions

Author Affiliations show

Abstract

THE VALUE OF A CORRECTLY TIMED supplementary feeding of honey bees with natural pollen, or with a combination of drivert sugar and natural pollen, has been demonstrated in Fresno County during four field-scale experiments. Each of these experiments included 60 bee colonies which were rented for crop pollination of almonds and alfalfa seed during 1968 and 1969. The provision of a pollen and sugar source two and a half to three weeks prior to the occurrence of the first natural bloom in the area caused a rapid increase in the queen bee's egg laying activity. A 2-lb feeding of drivert sugar and a 1 per cent pollen was adequate to maintain the rapidly growing colony population for the three weeks prior to natural bloom. The timing of the stimulant feeding is important, since it takes 21 days for a brood cycle of worker bees to mature.

Full text

Full text is available in PDF.

Author notes

Financial assistance was received from Hy-Queen Research Inc., Fresno County Pure Seed League, and California Almond Growers Exchange.


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