When resources are scarce and competition is high, beekeepers often opt to open feed with a 50/50 sugar water syrup. It is preferable to use pure, filtered water such as P U R water for this purpose, as it is favored by the bees.
Open Feeding and Sugar Water Syrup
The water-to-sugar ratio in the syrup affects the amount of dehydration the bees have to undertake. When the imitation nectar is brought into the hive, the bees must dry and condense it to transform it into honey. It is advisable to perform open feeding after harvesting honey from the hives, as you wouldn’t want to collect sugar water honey for personal consumption. The bees consume both 50% and 25% concentrations equally, but once depleted, they move on to feed on the 10% and 25% concentrations.
The Behavior of Wasps and Hornets
In the vicinity, the insects present are mostly wasps, while honeybees have already returned to their colonies for nighttime protection. The Yellowjackets congregate without attacking each other when there is an abundant resource like this, although they do raid beehives on occasion. The exception is the bald-faced hornet, which is a wasp that can be found in the middle of the pack on the right side. They come for nectar resources, including sugar water, but they also attack and carry away smaller wasps. However, they are not very successful against honeybees.
Wasps serve as dual-purpose predators, seeking both nectar and protein. They capture smaller wasps, tear them apart, and bring the protein back to their nest. Bees, on the other hand, can only drink their food due to the structure of their bodies. Different insect species can handle varying thicknesses of liquids. Various wasp species have abdomens with yellow and black stripes.
Characteristics and Differences
Wasps differ in characteristics, with yellow jackets generally being gentle to be around, while bald-faced hornets are highly aggressive and capable, even flying and navigating at night. They can squirt venom in defense. Using a bug-zooka can allow for the capture of insects alive, providing an opportunity for observation before release. When wasps are away from their feeding space, they are not actively defending it, making them easy to approach.
Yellow jackets have an advantage over honeybees in that they can fly in colder temperatures. They can be seen flying around in temperatures as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit, gathering resources before honeybees become active. During this time of year, many of the Yellowjackets venturing out are newly hatched queens that will aim to overwinter and establish new colonies in the following spring. Therefore, they have a significant carbohydrate hunger at this time.
