Probiotics for Bees

Kim Flottum mentioned probiotics for bees at the monthly MABA meeting and I learned more on Beekeeping Today Podcast where Kim Flottum and Jeff Ott interviewed the makers of SuperDFM, a dry blend of sucrose and 7 probiotic bacteria.    

Vera and Slava (makers of SuperDFM) write, "Multiple bacteria are present in all nectars, pollens, propolis and the environment. Honey bees need these bacteria to aid not only in digestion, but also to improve immune response and combating stressors detrimental to their health."

I reduced the stack of bee supers in preparation from winter and applied 10g of SuperDFM to the top-bars which the bees voraciously consumed.

Links to more information:

• Probiotics Nosema Field Trial - research by citizen science and small-scale beekeepers
• honeybee probiotic research
  

goldenrod 2021

Along the Atlanta BeltLine, I saw tall upright yellow flowering Goldenrod plants in sunny areas - see photos.

In recent fair weather, honey bees flew vigorously and returned with yellow pollen seen in the photo collage and I noticed a stronger and sour hive odor consistent with Goldenrod forage. 

In late afternoons, I saw a huge number of bees circulating at the sunny hive entrance, busy in orientation flight.  In Atlanta, there are potentially many more weeks of flowering Goldenrod left assuming more fair weather.  This gives me hope that the hive will have lots of bees going into winter.

Will there be a fall honey harvest?  Stay tuned.