Like many or most we here in the big AZ are in our summer dearth. Dependent on summer Monsoonal flow through our deserts as it is hit and miss unless a large disturbance comes in from the South and can last from 1 to 4 months. Desert beekeeping presents some challenges, but like the rest of you we work with nature as best we can. The bonus is really only one month cold weather all year and low humidity.
Anyway an open question searches haven't helped with in archives Pollen Sub. necessary or not during dearth? All new colonies, 1 Italian, two cut outs.... All doing well with the store bought colony into 2 deeps already. Other 2 doing well, one has re-queened itself and the other is now growing well though slower as it was a 3 comb cutout from a water meter box.
Just looking for some input and thanks in advance, oh and I know feeding now can be risky, but all 3 hives are still being fed and building....
:rolleyes:
Nugget,
I never use pollen substitute here for 2 reasons. One it that unless you only put on enough that the bees can eat it in one night, all you are doing is giving the SHB a place to breed in.
2. Here in north Florida the bees can find pollen almost year around. If it is warm enough to fly, there is probably pollen available, at least in town where there are lots of homes and all of the plants the home owners plant.
If you want to use it, do it for a set purpose, building brood, mainly.
Bees do not need it to survive the dearth, they need it to raise young.
Jim
Thanks Jim, I was reading about using it and was curious, but your simple and short answer cleared up questions as to when or why, thanks....
Bill