Best Nectar in Town: The Bee's Knees

Your bee friends need a little restorative too

Today we are watching a swarm of bees enjoying their morning pick-me-up. Because they are bees, they prefer nectar to caffeinated beverages, so I’ll assume that’s what the proprietor of The Bee’s Knees is serving up today. But you can still order yours with a shot of sugar or honey syrup or a drizzle of caramel sauce, because it’s all about customizing your beverage experience.

Bees do in fact feed on both nectar and pollen. Similar to how coffee works for us human machines, the nectar gives bees energy, while the pollen provides protein and nutrients. It is well-known that bees are critical to our ecosystem; in their collection of pollen for their own larvae they help spread that pollen from plant to plant, thus playing a vital role in the pollination necessary for plant reproduction. The US Geological Survey estimates that about 75% of North American plant species require insect assistance in helping their pollination, that help mostly coming from bees. It’s a lot of work for such a little creature, so naturally nectar helps keep them going.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s spring time, which can bring unpredictable weather (although, many of the same concerns are relevant for bees in the fall too). Bees are susceptible to cold and wet conditions, and if flowers are not yet abundant this can add additional challenges. A foraging bumble bee is only ever about 40 minutes from starvation as per The Bumblebee Conservation Trust in the UK. But the good news is that you can help a struggling bee. If you find a cold bee, moving them to a sunny and secure location (like a flower) can help them recover and gather strength to continue on their journey. While a tired bee is unlikely to have the energy to attack, you might be more comfortable moving the insect carefully using something like a nearby leaf to help lift it. In any event, move gently and avoid startling the bee. In some cases, if the bee does not seem to be recovering from a warm-up alone, it might benefit from a sugary boost too. Assuming there are no nectar carts in your area, the best substitute is a solution of 50%/50% room temperature water and sugar mix. Use only white sugar—brown sugar, maple syrup, and high-fructose corn syrup all contain ingredients harmful to bees. Even honey should be avoided, as it can be a vector for spreading diseases. Put a the sugar mix in a shallow vessel, such as a bottle cap, and let the bee drink. Placing a few drops below its head, using caution so as not to drown it, will make it easier for the bee to access the mix. The Save Bees website (which is super-adorable and has heartwarming stories of bees befriending human helpers) has many more tips and tricks to help struggling bees, including ways to house them overnight—they call it “Creating your own Air Bee-n-Bee”—if the bee is too far from home near sundown.

US Geological Survey: Do bees feed on both nectar and pollen?

Save Bees: Help Revive a Cold or Wet Bee