Category: Beekeeping

When it comes to feeding bees, every beekeeper has their own playbook. Some stick with cane sugar syrup, others experiment with protein patties and pollen substitutes, and a large number, myself included, use high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS sometimes gets a bad reputation, but in my experience, it can be an excellent feed option for commercial beekeepers when sourced and stored properly. Let’s unpack what it is, why I use it, and how to keep it safe for your bees. What Is HFCS, Really? HFCS is made from corn starch…

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If you’ve kept bees for any length of time, you’ve probably asked or been asked this question: “How can I stop my bees from swarming?” A common answer is, “Give them more room so they don’t feel crowded.”From there, we end up with the statement: “Crowding causes swarming.”But is it really that simple? Swarming Isn’t Just About Space In his excellent book Honeybee Democracy, Dr. Thomas Seeley points out: “To this day, no one knows what specific stimuli the worker bees are sensing and integrating when they make the critical…

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