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Water is life, and for bees too!

Table of contents

Water is indeed crucial for the well-being of honey bees (Apis mellifera), especially in hot, dry climates or during droughts. Water’s importance for bees goes beyond hydration, playing vital roles in colony function and survival.

Discover with us the different impacts of water supply, and the best way to provide your colonies with a quality water source.

Impact of water on the colony

The brood is in the center of the colony, needing stable humidity 1 and temperature 2 conditions.  When the temperature is high in the brood, nurses cool it by ventilating with their wings. If this does not achieve the 32-36 ºC 3 necessary for the well-being of the larvae, they will also produce evaporation of water drops placed on the combs to reduce the temperature4.

Furthermore, due to the liquid composition of royal jelly, 60-70% water5, nurses have a high need to ingest water. When there is a need for water, the bees in charge of this work must continually go for it, as the water is not stored in the hive.

Bees usually get water from nectar (80% water), but when nectar is scarce, they search, collect, and carry water into the hive3.

They often prefer lightly mineralized water to pure water, as it provides essential micronutrients. This preference may vary according to the season and the availability of floral resources6.

  • Thermoregulation: Bees use water for evaporative cooling to maintain optimal hive temperatures, especially during hot weather. Worker bees spread water throughout the hive and fan their wings to create airflow, effectively cooling the colony7.
  • Nutrition: Water is necessary for food digestion and royal jelly production7.
  • Brood care: Water is essential for diluting honey to feed larvae and maintaining proper humidity levels in brood areas. Ideal humidity in brood areas is higher than in other parts of the hive, which is crucial for proper larval development6.
  • Nectar processing: Bees use water to thin nectar before becoming honey during the nectar ripening process. Lower humidity in nectar ripening areas allows faster evaporation and prevents microbial growth8.

Colony water consumption

Water consumption of 200- 250 ml per hive and day9 has been observed so that an apiary of 60 hives can consume up to 100 liters per week. A strong hive on a hot day can consume over a liter of water, with up to 800 workers each making up to 50 trips to water sources8.

Bees typically seek the nearest water source3, which can lead to issues when they go to swimming pools, fountains, or other areas near homes. They prefer shallow water to avoid drowning and often gather water from troughs meant for livestock or wildlife, which can deter these animals from drinking due to fear of bee stings. 

How to provide bees with a good source of water?

To prevent such problems, beekeepers should provide drinkers with clean water within the apiary. This not only benefits animal welfare but also enhances productivity.

When bees must travel long distances for water, they expend energy, reducing honey production. A 2007 study10 in Poland found that bees collecting water from distant sources may not return to the hive due to energy depletion. Therefore, the closer the water supply, the better. Additionally, if the apiary is on elevated ground, the drinkers should also be elevated to minimize the energy bees use to transport water.

Recent studies show that providing clean, accessible water sources is crucial for colony health and reduces exposure to contaminated water. Providing water in the apiary has the added benefit of reducing the risk of bees being poisoned by agricultural pesticides11 found in contaminated water sources such as puddles, riverbeds, and livestock ponds. 

Beekeepers and gardeners can support bee populations by creating shallow water sources with landing spots like pebbles or floating plants to prevent drowning 12. Understanding honey bees’ water needs is essential for beekeepers and conservationists, especially as climate change may lead to more frequent and severe droughts 13-14.

Insulation to limit the effects of water shortage

There are situations where the need to replenish water to maintain brood humidity or temperature is increased and can be mitigated. For instance, in hives that are very deteriorated or deformed, or where the closing elements like lids do not fit well, an internal “chimney effect” can occur, causing significant drying of the brood.

Similarly, in hives with poor thermal insulation or metal lids without interior insulation, excessive external temperatures can increase the need for ventilation and water evaporation. To address these issues, it is important to thermally insulate the hives properly, use lids or inter-lids that prevent airflow through the brood area, and ensure the hives are shaded.

Remember: tips for a well-moisturized hive!

  • The water source should be located within or very close to the apiary. 
  • The tank should have enough capacity to supply all hives between visits from the beekeeper. 
  • The water source should be protected from access by wild animals, such as wild boars or bears, which might disrupt it. 
  • Ideally, it should have a float system that refills the drinker as water is consumed. 
  • The drinking area should provide surface moisture rather than deep water to prevent bees from drowning.
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References

  1. Gil-Lebrero S., Navas González F.J., Gámiz López V., Quiles Latorre F.J., Flores Serrano J.M. Regulation of Microclimatic Conditions inside Native Beehives and Its Relationship with Climate in Southern Spain. Sustainability. 2020;12:6431. doi: 10.3390/su12166431.
  2. Edward E. Southwick and Gerhard Heldmaier, Temperature Control in Honey Bee Colonies. BioScience, AIBS, 37, No. 6 (Jun., 1987), pp. 395-399, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1310562
  3. Seeley, T., and B. Heinrich. 1981. Regulation of temperature in the nests of social insects. Pages 159-234 in B. Heinrich, ed. Insect Thermoregulation, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
  4. Lindauer M. The water economy and temperature regulation of the honeybee colony. Bee World. 1955;36(5):81–92. doi: 10.1080/0005772X.1955.11094876.
  5. Stefan, Bogdanov. The royal jelly book. Muehlethurnen, Switzerland, Bee Product Science, April 2016. bee-hexagon.net
  6. Khan KA, Ghramh HA, Ahmad Z, El-Niweiri MAA, Mohammed MEA. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) preference towards micronutrients and their impact on bee colonies. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021 Jun;28(6):3362-3366. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.084. Epub 2021 Mar 10. PMID: 34121873; PMCID: PMC8175997.
  7. Nicolson SW. Water homeostasis in bees, with the emphasis on sociality. J Exp Biol. 2009 Feb;212(Pt 3):429-34. doi: 10.1242/jeb.022343. PMID: 19151218.
  8. Kühnholz S, Seeley TD. The control of water collection in honey bee colonies. Behav Ecol Sociobiol. 1997;41:407–422. doi: 10.1007/s002650050402.
  9. Al-Rajhi, M. A. EFFECT OF SHADING AND VENTILATION ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER CONSUMED FOR COOLING BEEHIVE DURING SUMMER SEASON. MJAE, 2017; 34(4): 1857-1868. doi: 10.21608/mjae.2017.96196
  10. Woyciechowski, M. Risk of Water Collecting in Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Workers (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Sociobiology. 2007, 50, 1059-1068.
  11. McCune F, Samson-Robert O, Rondeau S, Chagnon M, Fournier V. Supplying honey bees with waterers: a precautionary measure to reduce exposure to pesticides. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Apr;28(14):17573-17586. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-12147-3. Epub 2021 Jan 5. PMID: 33403629.
  12. Ostwald MM, Smith ML, Seeley TD. The behavioral regulation of thirst, water collection and water storage in honey bee colonies. J Exp Biol. 2016 Jul 15;219(Pt 14):2156-65. doi: 10.1242/jeb.139824. PMID: 27445400.
  13. Bordier C, Suchail S, Pioz M, Devaud JM, Collet C, Charreton M, Le Conte Y, Alaux C. Stress response in honeybees is associated with changes in task-related physiology and energetic metabolism. J Insect Physiol. 2017 Apr;98:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.11.013. Epub 2016 Nov 28. PMID: 27908721.
  14. Mayack C, Naug D. Starving honeybees lose self-control. Biol Lett. 2015 Jan;11(1):20140820. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0820. PMID: 25631230; PMCID: PMC4321150.