When might supplemental feeding of bee colonies be necessary?

Supplemental feeding of bee colonies is often necessary during early Spring and late Fall due to the specific challenges faced by bees during these periods.

In early Spring, colonies are typically coming out of winter and may not have sufficient stored honey to support the brood rearing that begins as temperatures warm up. This increased activity requires more food as bees start to build up their population in preparation for the foraging season. Supplemental feeding during this time can provide the necessary resources to ensure a healthy buildup of the colony.

In late Fall, bees are preparing for winter and need to store enough food to survive when foraging opportunities are limited or nonexistent. If the honey stores are low as the season changes, providing supplemental feed can help ensure that the colony has adequate resources to make it through the colder months where they are unable to forage.

While other seasons can also present feeding requirements under certain circumstances, these two periods are critically important for ensuring that colonies have the nutrition they need to thrive throughout the changing seasons.