Beekeeping 101

Should You Feed Honey Bees During a Dearth?

How to Know When Your Hives Need a Helping Hand

Summer in Wisconsin and the greater Midwest can bring stretches of hot, dry weather where nectar sources vanish and flowers dry up—this is known as a nectar dearth. During these periods, honey bees may struggle to find the food they need to sustain the colony, especially if the hive is newly established or recovering from previous stress. So the big question for beekeepers: Should you feed your bees during a dearth?

The answer? It depends. While strong, established hives with adequate honey stores and foraging opportunities may be just fine, others could benefit from supplemental feeding to maintain population strength, raise brood, and survive until fall nectar flows resume.

Let’s take a closer look at what a nectar dearth is, the risks it poses, and how to decide whether feeding is the right move for your apiary.

What Is a Nectar Dearth?

A nectar dearth is a period when flowers are no longer producing nectar in sufficient quantities, which typically happens in mid-to-late summer. In Wisconsin, this can occur anytime between late July and early September, depending on rainfall, temperature, and regional plant life.

During a dearth:

• Bees may become more aggressive or rob neighboring hives.

• Brood rearing may slow down.

• Queens may reduce or stop laying eggs.

• Colonies can starve if they don’t have enough reserves.

Checklist: Should You Feed Your Bees?

Use this quick checklist to evaluate whether your bees need a supplemental sugar syrup or pollen substitute.

1. Do your bees have at least 2 full frames of stored honey or syrup?

• Yes → You may not need to feed.

• No → Consider feeding 1:1 sugar syrup (early in the season) or 2:1 (late summer/fall).

  
  

2. Is brood production slowing down due to lack of resources?

• Yes → Feed to support queen productivity.

• No → Observe closely; may not need to feed yet.

3. Is there little to no foraging activity, even on warm days?

• Yes → A sign that nectar is scarce.

• No → Bees may still be finding food.

4. Is the colony newly established (package or split)?

• Yes → Likely needs feeding during dearth.

• No → Evaluate based on overall strength and stores.

5. Are there signs of robbing or bee aggression?

• Yes → Feed cautiously. Reduce entrances and avoid open feeding.

• No → Monitor conditions, but stay proactive.

Feeding Tips

• Sugar Syrup Ratios:

  • 1:1 (sugar:water) promotes comb building and brood production.

  • 2:1 helps colonies store food for winter.

• Pollen Substitute:If natural pollen is unavailable, feeding a pollen patty can help maintain brood rearing.

• Don’t Overfeed:Feeding when not needed can cause syrup buildup in brood areas or encourage robbing.

• Stop feeding once natural nectar flows resume. You don’t want bees to store syrup in your honey supers!

Final Thoughts

Feeding during a dearth isn’t about pampering your bees—it’s about ensuring survival, especially for vulnerable hives. A healthy colony going into fall is far more likely to survive the harsh Wisconsin winter.

Monitor your bees closely in August and early September, stay observant of local conditions, and don’t hesitate to lend a hand when nature takes a break.