Bee Psychology

[BeeTex]

Will bees always stop accepting sugar syrup if there is an abundant nectar flow available? Will bees ever become complacent and just feed from their feeder rather than forage? Can you force them to forage more (or farther) by removing the feeders?

[bobbees]

I have four hives that are about the same size yet they take the syrup at different rates. One will go through a quart in a week the others take longer. All four will take little or no syrup when there is a flow. The answer to your question is they are all different but I have never seen or heard of a hive not foraging when there is a flow and good weather

[tecumseh]

I would as a general rule suggest that what bob has said as being true...

the variable that is not considered here might be the type of feeder (ie where the girls go to get their little sugar fix). for example... I have feeder incorporated into my covers which allow the girls to access feed day or night right above the brood nest. so in a flow they may not tap the kegs so much during the day, but at night they certainly know where the party is located.

[Michael Bush]

> Will bees always stop accepting sugar syrup if there is an abundant nectar flow available?

No.

> Will bees ever become complacent and just feed from their feeder rather than forage?

No, but they will to some extant, but not completely.

>Can you force them to forage more (or farther) by removing the feeders?

You can't force bees to do anything. But you can stop feeding them and they will forage more.

[BEES4U]

This is also true about the consumption of pollen patties.
Ernie