New Bee Feed Sustains Colonies

Washington State University reports that scientists have developed a food block for honey bees that can sustain a colony without access to pollen. They compare the product to a livestock feed and say it can help reduce bees’ vulnerability to colony collapse by addressing the problem of feed shortages in their environment. The bee feed combines isofucosterol, a molecule found naturally in pollen, with other nutrients necessary for honey bees. Field tests of the product showed that it sustained colonies sited in blueberry and sunflower fields, which typically don’t offer enough pollen for bee colonies to thrive. Developers say the product could play an important role in supporting bee colonies used for pollination services.