Water is as critical to honey bees as it is to any other living creature — like humans, bees need water to survive. It’s not just about quenching their thirst; water plays several crucial roles in the daily life of a honey bee colony. For instance, bees depend on water for maintaining hive temperatures, especially during hot weather. They fan their wings to evaporate water, creating an air conditioning effect.
This cooling mechanism protects larvae and keeps the hive at an optimal temperature for wax production. Wax is essential for constructing the honeycomb, where bees store honey and nurture their young. This links directly to honey production, which is essential in a bee’s life and important for a beekeeper. Dry conditions can impair all these processes in the hive and result in reduced honey yield.
Let’s not forget, bees also use water to dilute stored honey that has crystallized over time, making it consumable again. This plays a significant role in feeding the hive, particularly the young bees. Importantly, just like any other organism, bees need water for basic physiological functions such as digestion, waste elimination, and nutrient transportation within their bodies.
The Beekeeper’s Responsibility: Ensuring Bees’ Water Access
As a beekeeper I have 1 ultimate goal to achieve — to look after my beehives in such a way that helps each bee colony thrive, which in general means to be big, strong and healthy. It also means making sure my honey bees have everything they need, including consistent access to water.
Failure to provide bees with a proper water source can lead to unnecessary stress and weakening the colony. This can make bees more susceptible to disease and reduce their ability to forage and produce honey.
In essence, the water needs of bees might seem like a minor detail in beekeeping activities, but it’s a crucial aspect of bee health that directly impacts their vitality and productivity.
Why Bees Need Water
Bees, like all living creatures, have fundamental needs, and water is one of the most critical.
- The most basic — quenching thirst.
- Water is crucial for cooling the hive.
Just like your air conditioner works on a hot summer day, bees use water to regulate the temperature inside their hive. Worker bees collect water and distribute it throughout the hive, and through the fanning of their wings, water evaporation provides a cooling effect.
- Then, there’s the matter of feeding the young bees.
The honey bee diet isn’t just nectar and honey – diluted honey is the primary food source for larval bees. Nurse bees take on the role of caregivers, mixing water with honey to create a suitable nourishment for the developing young.
- Water is involved in bees’ digestion.
It’s essential for processing their primarily sugar-based diet, helping with the absorption of nutrients. Similar to how water aids our own digestion, it’s key for keeping bees’ guts healthy.
- In the delicate early stages of a bee’s life, water also plays a role in maintaining larvae.
A controlled humid environment ensures that the larval bees can grow without desiccation.
- Water helps maintain a bee’s individual health.
Dehydration can have immediate effects, not only on the individual bee’s ability to perform tasks but also on the colony’s overall vitality and productivity.
Natural and Artificial Water Sources for Honey Bees
Interestingly, when it comes to water sources honey bees can be surprisingly unselective — collecting water, for example, from puddles (which do not look particularly clean to us). In nature, they may choose ponds, streams, wet soil, or dew on plants to quench their thirst. The advantage of natural water sources is that typically they require no maintenance from us, but they can be unpredictable and pose risks of predation.
I have read that the proximity of water to the hive is very important, and a water source should not be further than 50 meters away. Ideally, honey bees should have an access to water very close to their hive because they can really struggle to bring water from far when, for example, the weather is still cold in early spring, but the queen has already started laying eggs, and so water is needed to raise the new generation of bees.
That is when artificial water sources come very handy. The main advantage is that they offer convenient proximity, beekeepers’ control over cleanliness and ease of access. Of course, the downside is that they demand our regular attention.
I have seen some beekeepers installing quite sophisticated water stations in their apiaries, which provide clean and even slightly heated water. And I could see by the number of bees using those baths that they really enjoyed and benefited from it.
I personally have never installed anything like that. However, for a few years my hives were about 15 meters away from a pond with a lot of vegetation on the surface that provided safe landing spots for my bees. Currently, my beehives are about 40 meters away from a river, and I have set up a bee waterer to see how popular it is going to be.
Artificial Water Sources for Bees — Comparison List
- Bee Waterer Fountain: a small fountain designed specifically for bees to access water easily.
- Size: typically small to medium-sized, ranging from a few inches to a foot in diameter.
- Material: often made of ceramic, glass, or plastic.
- Cost: moderate to expensive, depending on size and materials.
- Availability: can be bought from garden supply stores or online retailers, or homemade with DIY tutorials.
- Advantages: provides a continuous flow of water, attracting bees with movement and sound. Helps prevent drowning with shallow water areas.
- Disadvantages: requires electricity if it’s a powered fountain. May need periodic cleaning to prevent algae growth.
- Bee Watering Station: a shallow dish or tray filled with water, sometimes with floating objects for bees to land on.
- Size: can vary from small saucers to larger trays, typically a few inches deep.
- Material: can be made of plastic, ceramic, glass, or metal.
- Cost: low to moderate, depending on size and material.
- Availability: can be bought from garden stores or online, or easily made with common household items.
- Advantages: simple and inexpensive to set up. Provides a flat surface for bees to land and drink safely.
- Disadvantages: requires regular refilling, especially in hot weather. May attract mosquitoes if not maintained properly.
- Bee Watering Garden: a designated area in the garden with shallow ponds, wet sand, or moist soil for bees to drink from.
- Size: variable, depending on the size of the garden or designated area.
- Material: natural materials like soil, sand, or stone, possibly lined with a waterproof barrier.
- Cost: low to moderate, depending on whether it’s naturally integrated into the garden or requires construction.
- Availability: can be created in any garden space with appropriate conditions for water retention.
- Advantages: mimics natural water sources. Low maintenance once established. Can attract a variety of beneficial insects.
- Disadvantages: may require periodic maintenance to prevent stagnation or overgrowth. May not be suitable for all garden types or climates.
- Bee Watering Bowl with Rocks: a shallow bowl filled with water and rocks or pebbles for bees to perch on while drinking.
- Size: small to medium-sized, typically a few inches deep.
- Material: usually made of ceramic, plastic, or metal.
- Cost: low to moderate, depending on the material and size.
- Availability: can be bought from garden stores or online, or easily made with common household items.
- Advantages: provides a stable landing surface for bees. Easy to set up and maintain.
- Disadvantages: requires regular refilling. Rocks may need occasional cleaning to prevent debris buildup.
- Bee Watering Bottle: a bottle or jar filled with water, with a platform or floating material inside for bees to access.
- Size: variable, depending on the size of the bottle or jar used.
- Material: typically glass or plastic.
- Cost: low to moderate, depending on the size and material of the container.
- Availability: can be made with common household items or bought online. DIY tutorials are available.
- Advantages: easy to set up and refill. Provides a safe landing spot for bees.
- Disadvantages: requires frequent monitoring and refilling. May not be as aesthetically pleasing as other options.
These are just a few examples of artificial water sources for bees, each with its own set of characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Choosing the right option depends on factors such as budget, space, and personal preferences.
There are a few additional options that may be suitable:
- Mud Puddle or Mud Wall: a designated area in the garden where water is allowed to collect, creating a muddy spot for bees to access moisture.
- Size: variable, depending on the area designated for the mud puddle or mud wall.
- Material: natural soil or clay, possibly reinforced with rocks or other materials to prevent erosion.
- Cost: low, as it primarily requires natural materials.
- Availability: can be created in any garden space with appropriate conditions for water retention.
- Advantages: mimics natural water sources. Low maintenance once established. Provides essential minerals from the soil.
- Disadvantages: may require periodic maintenance to prevent drying out or becoming too muddy. May not be suitable for all garden types or climates.
- Bee Watering Tower: a tall structure with multiple levels of shallow water trays or dishes, providing ample space for bees to drink.
- Size: medium to large, depending on the number of levels and trays.
- Material: typically made of wood, metal, or plastic.
- Cost: moderate to high, depending on size and materials.
- Availability: can be purchased from specialty beekeeping supply stores or constructed as a DIY project.
- Advantages: provides a significant water source for large bee populations. Can be customized in size and design.
- Disadvantages: requires space and regular maintenance. May be more costly and complex to build than other options.
- Bee Watering Drip System: a system of tubes or hoses with small drippers or nozzles placed near plants or flowers, providing a continuous drip of water for bees to access.
- Size: variable, depending on the size of the garden or area being watered.
- Material: typically made of plastic or rubber tubing with drip emitters.
- Cost: moderate, depending on the size and complexity of the system.
- Availability: can be purchased as a drip irrigation kit from garden supply stores or online retailers.
- Advantages: provides a constant water source directly near foraging areas. Helps to keep plants hydrated as well.
- Disadvantages: requires access to a water source and regular monitoring to ensure proper function. Installation may require some expertise.
A Beekeeper’s Guide to Water Provision for Honey Bees
- A water source should be close and consistent
When placing water stations, take note of their proximity to the hive. Bees are more likely to use water sources that don’t require a long flight. Aim for a balance, positioning water stations no further than a few meters from the hive if possible. Strategically placing water sources near the hive minimises the bees’ travel, conserves their energy, and reduces the risk of predation. Experiment with different containers and settings to find what works best for your bees.
- Maintenance is crucial
You need to ensure that water stations are clean, filled, and free from harmful substances like chlorine or pesticides. Clean water helps prevent disease and contamination.
- A water source should be safe to use
To save bees from drowning, I recommend using shallow water containers and adding materials like stones, pebbles, twigs or floating corks for bees to land on safely while they drink.
4. Attracting bees to new water sources can sometimes be a challenge
Experiment with adding small amounts of salt or natural sugar to the water; this can make it more appealing to your bees. However, remember to monitor these stations closely to maintain the correct mineral balance and prevent other potential issues, such as attracting pests.
- Regular monitoring is vital
Quality control involves checking water levels, cleanliness, and any signs of contamination. If you notice bees aren’t using a water station, don’t hesitate to make adjustments. They’re unique creatures, and sometimes it takes a few tries to find the sweet spot that meets their needs.
Ensuring Success: Best Practices in Bee Watering
Providing a reliable water source for honey bees is important to their success and as a consequence to successful beekeeping. It is worth remembering that bees’ water needs change with the seasons. Being attentive to these shifts is very helpful. More water will be needed during hot spells, while low temperatures call for alternate strategies to make sure your bees can access water.
Thank you for reading, and welcome with questions and ideas!