How long will bee survive in winter with nothing to eat

[Dr. B in Wisconsin]

Hello
Just wondering how long a bee would survive if she just ate a meal of honey in a cold winter and had nothing left to eat. There may be a few contributing factors but in general would a be survive a day, week or weeks.
Thanks for any thoughts.

[Colobee]

OK, I'll make the first guess. One bee - kept artificially warm - maybe a few hours?  A cluster might last the night ???

Interesting question...

On a more practical note, if memory serves me, a 3lb package of bees will go through ~2 quarts of syrup in a week if there is no flow coming in.

[D Coates]

If she's alone, even in warm conditions and something to eat, she'll be lucky to make it through the night.

[sterling]

Kent Williams a big time Ky beek did our club talk Monday said a cluster without stores in the spring during a cold spell could starve in three days. The point of course was keep something on the hives that they can eat.

[Michael Bush]

Once their gut is empty of honey (they can hold several days worth when they swarm or they are foraging of course) they won't last very long.  And if it's cold, it's less.  Maybe hours.  It all depends on what they have with them.  But my assumption, for the purpose of caring for them, would be that it may be only hours...

[BeeMaster2]

Michael,
Several times I have tried take a drone and put it in a jar the day before a bee presentation but they never survive the night. Smoe times they are dead before night fall. This is with a screen top jar. Is it a food problem or is it something else. I have tried leaving a little honey in the jar and then added a wet sponge but it does not help. Kept the jar in a warm house.
Any ideas on what it takes to keep them alive for more than a few hours?
I have a couple of presentations coming up next month.
Jim

[iddee]

Jim, Michael can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a drone can feed himself. I think the house bees pass it on to him. That would mean you would have to have attendants with him, same as a queen.

[Michael Bush]

Drones will be fed at first, but eventually they start eating right out of the cells.  I think they die because they stress themselves out.  Try putting a piece of old comb in with them.  Trying to give them food always seems to make a mess... sticky dying drones...  maybe some candy?  I like to clip their wings and hand them out to the kids who want them... and it's not long before they all want them...

[BeeMaster2]

Drones will be fed at first, but eventually they start eating right out of the cells.  I think they die because they stress themselves out.  Try putting a piece of old comb in with them.  Trying to give them food always seems to make a mess... sticky dying drones...  maybe some candy?  I like to clip their wings and hand them out to the kids who want them... and it's not long before they all want them...

Thanks Michael,
I will try the old comb trick. I also like the clipped wings.
One thing I do is put them in my mouth and then show them it is on my tongue. I am carefull to make sure to let them know that I only do it with the drones and why.
I did that once with a new BEEK and then turned and spit it out. A few minutes later, he said, mmm, tastes like butter. To make a long story short, he thought that I ate it. I tried one and they do taste like honey butter. Make sure you get one out of the hive. The ones returning to the hive  have empty stomachs and are bland.
Jim

[gww]

Jim

To make a long story short, he thought that I ate it. I tried one and they do taste like honey butter. Make sure you get one out of the hive. The ones returning to the hive  have empty stomachs and are bland.

You really do like bees, I mean literally. 
gww

[BeeMaster2]

GW,
They do taste like honey butter. MMMMM.

Jim