Supplemental feeding of honey bees

Abstract

These results indicate that ratings of honey bee colonies based on bee numbers and brood area, were most useful in predicting the pollen-collecting activity by those colonies when the rating was done within 21 days, or one brood cycle, of the pollination period. The rating criteria correlated closely with the pollen collection of honey bees in this experiment. The results of this experiment demonstrated that tools are available now for stimulating an increase in honey bee populations, and for estimating relative pollination capabilities of bee colonies. The advisability and methods of use rest in the hands and imaginations of beekeepers and growers of bee-pollinated crops.