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High-Fructose Corn Syrup for Honey Bees: What You Need to Know
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…
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Queen Care
If you purchased caged mated queens from us, we always recommend installing them in a queenless colony as soon as possible. If you need to keep your queen caged overnight or for several days you need to remember that queens need three things to survive: food, water, and nurse bees. You have two easy options…
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New Beekeeper FAQ
Q: What should I do when I bring home my nuc? A: Gently remove one frame at a time and place them in the center of your 10 or 8 frame box. Place the remaining frames of foundation on the outside of the five frames that you purchased from us. We recommend not waiting to…
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HFCS vs Sucrose (Podcast Citations)
Diet-dependent gene expression in honey bees: Honey vs. sucrose or high fructose corn syrup. Scientific Reports, 2014 Carbohydrate nutrition associated with health of overwintering honey bees. PLOS One, 2023 The effect of high-fructose corn syrup on wintering honey bees. American Bee Journal, 2013 Sucrose, glucose, and fructose preference in honeybees and their effects on food…
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Does Local Honey Help with Seasonal Allergies? A Beekeeper’s Guide
Every spring, when the pollen starts flying, I get the same question from market customers and visitors to my apiary: “If I eat local honey, will it help with my allergies?” It’s one of the most common beliefs about honey, and it makes sense at first glance. After all, allergies are caused by pollen, and…
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Beehive Splits: What They Are?
If you keep bees long enough, you’ll eventually find yourself making a split. In the simplest terms, a split is just what it sounds like, taking one strong colony and dividing it into two (or more). Sounds straightforward, right? Well, yes and no. The idea is simple, but the ways to split and the reasons…
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