If honeybees are left with sufficient honey over the winter, a beekeeper does not need to provide sugar for them in the spring. Sugar is provided only if there are not enough food reserves during late winter or early spring when colonies are expanding and there is no foraging since it is too cold or bloom has not yet started. It is a good idea to check on their honey stores in late winter to see if supplemental feeding is necessary.
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If bees produce a "surplus" of honey that is harvested in the summer or early fall, why do they need to be fed sugar throughout the winter and spring? Wouldn't they ordinarily use the surplus honey?
Last Updated: December 10, 2010
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