Additive to sugar syrup fed to honey bees for both spring and fall feedings, but not when honey supers are on. HBH stimulates feeding and stimulates the honey bees’ immune system. What you’ll need: • 1/8 teaspoon lecithin (emulsifier to bond oil and water) • 4 cups granulated, white sugar (2 lbs) • 2 1/4 cups water • 10 drops spearmint essential oil • 10 drops lemongrass essential oil
Soak the lecithin in a ¼ cup very warm water and let it sit for a couple of hours before starting, then crush the nodules and stirring vigorously to dissolve. Heat 2 cups water to a near boil and remove from heat source, add 4 cups sugar and stir until it is dissolved, then stir in the lecithin and essential oils. Mix well and let cool. Put in a container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Shake well before adding to sugar syrup. Add a teaspoon of the HBH to each quart of sugar syrup to attract bees and boost immune health. Keeps at least a year. (Yield: about 1 quart)
Sugar Syrup for Feeding
Only use granulated sugar! Discontinue feeding when bees lose interest, nectar is flowing, or honey supers are on. There are 16 cups in a gallon, so 8 cups of sugar with 8 cups of water will give you a gallon of feed. Spring: One to One, similar to nectar. (1:1) One part sugar (1 pound OR 2 cups) One part water (16 ounces OR 2 cups). *You can also just use 1 cup sugar to 1 cup water measurements.
Winter: Two to One, resembles honey. (2:1) Two parts sugar (2 pounds OR 4 cups) One part water (16 ounces OR 2 cups). *You can also just use 2 cups sugar to 1 cup water measurements.
Sugar Cake
Winter feeding for when temperatures are below freezing.
10 pounds of sugar
2 cups of water
1 tsp HBH (Honey Bee Healthy)
Mix water and HBH into the sugar. Pour onto paper plates. Let sit overnight to harden. Place sugar disk on top of frames at the top of the hive.
Fondant
10 lbs Sugar 5 cups Water 1 tsp Vinegar (prevents mold and mildew, retards fermentation, lowers pH) Optional: 2 tsp ProHealth or Honey Bee Healthy
Directions:
Bring Water to a boil in an 8-quart pot or larger on medium high heat.
Add some Sugar and stir, add more sugar and stir. Keep stirring (don't cover).
Continue stirring and bring to softball stage 242 degrees (we take it off the heat at 238 degrees).
Remove from heat and cool to about 190 degrees stirring occasionally. It helps to set pot on wire rack to facilitate cooling (this takes about 45 min).
Add Vinegar (and Optional health item)
Stir vigorously and quickly pour into paper plate molds. (We use jelly roll pans lined with parchment paper. While it is still soft, we score the fondant in the pan into smaller pieces with a knife. When it hardens completely, we break the fondant on the scored marks.)
Should be fudge hard at room temperature when cooled.
Place on the inside of the upper hive directly on top of frames. (We add a 1" shim between the hive body and the inner cover to provide space.)
Wasp Poison Bait
Make a poison station for Spring and Early Summer (late summer and fall wasps switch from protein to sweets)
Can of 5.5 oz cat food, wasps are attracted to the protein
Add 8 drops of Fipronil 9.8% Flea Treatment
Put can of food in animal safe container
Closed up live trap
Old Bee Package with small holes cut in it and seal it up