How to use MegaBee to feed your bees?

by Véto-pharma
7 February 2025
Nutrition
3 minutes of reading

MegaBee is a protein nutritional supplement. It replaces pollen when there is a shortage in the environment, both in quantity and quality. It is a food with NO GMO, NO soya, NO animal ingredients and NO artificial colourings or flavourings.

What makes MegaBee successful? Its unique palatability and infinitely small particle size, allowing optimal nutrient assimilation by the bees. Compared to other pollen substitutes, for the same amount of product, Megabee will generate greater benefits (amount of brood, adult bee population, increased longevity).^1-2

When to use MegaBee?

The use of MegaBee can play a crucial role at different times of the year and under various stressful conditions for the colony. Below are the key times when MegaBee can be particularly beneficial:

In early spring, to develop the nucs and increase the strength of the hives.
In autumn, to prepare the hives for winter.
Under stress conditions: For example, when natural sources are insufficient (drought, lack of flowering, areas of high hive density, low quality pollens…) or during Asian wasp predation.

How to use MegaBee?

MegaBee is a very versatile product and can be used in 3 ways:

– Mixed with syrup to make a solid patty (recommended)
– Dissolved in sugar syrup to be provided as a liquid feed
– Directly in powder form

Protein patty with MegaBee (recommended use)

This method of use consists of making a protein patty of approximately 450g, which is crushed between two sheets of vegetable paper. This is the form of application that gives the most immediate results, as the bees consume the protein patty directly.

The rate of consumption depends on the strength of the hive. The rule of thumb is to give your bees what they can consume in 7-10 days. If you leave the patties longer, they may dry out, while if you only give them a small patty and they devour it in 3-4 days, then it means they need more.

However, to get you started, here are a few pointers:

For standard hives, feed them with 450 grams.
For weaker nucs and hives, start with 230 grams.
Strong hives may need 2 or 3 patties of 450 grams.

Recommendations for preparing a 450g protein patty at 23% protein for spring:

Mix MegaBee in equal parts with a thick syrup (2:1), adding a little vegetable oil (≈ 4% of the weight of the mixture – avoid olive oil which is not very palatable), until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.
Press between two sheets of parchment paper to form a relatively thin patty.
Then place this patty on top of the frames, close to the brood.

To benefit from the full potential of MegaBee, supplement your colonies for a minimum of 6 weeks (2 brood cycles). If you stop supplementation too early, you will have created a large amount of brood but not enough workers to meet their needs, doing more harm than good to the colony.

MegaBee	215 g
Dense syrup (2:1)	215 g
Vegetable oil	20 g (≈ 4% of total weight)

Liquid feeding with MegaBee

MegaBee can also be administered diluted in a thick syrup.

This syrup is then placed in the feeders.

Recommendations for liquid feeding:

Mix the MegaBee powder into the thick syrup according to the ratio indicated in the table below. Make sure that all lumps have been removed. Once well mixed, MegaBee will remain in suspension for the duration of use.

The advantage of MegaBee lies in its high solubility: with its extremely fine particle size, MegaBee will not settle to the bottom of the feeders.

MegaBee	1 kg
Dense syrup (2:1)	15 litres

Directly in dry powder form

You can feed MegaBee powder directly to the bees by placing it in a feeder, making sure it is protected from wind and moisture. Another option is to sprinkle it directly onto the frames.

However, to ensure better absorption, both of the above options (protein patty or liquid feed) are recommended. It is like trying to drink a powder through a straw; it is much more effective when the powder is mixed with other ingredients that make it easier to consume.

Conservation

MegaBee can be used for up to 3 years after manufacture. It is recommended to store it in a cool, dry place, away from light and moisture. Once opened, be sure to close the container tightly to preserve the quality of the product.

Available formats

MegaBee is available in various formats to suit the needs of beekeepers of different sizes, including presentations of:

2 kg,
20 kg
680 kg bulk bags

Do you have any questions? Visit the MegaBee webpage:

References:

Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, Gordon Wardell, Fabiana Ahumada-Segura, Thomas Rinderer, Robert Danka & Jeff Pettis (2008) Comparisons of pollen substitute diets for honey bees: consumption rates by colonies and effects on brood and adult populations, Journal of Apicultural Research, 47:4, 265-270, DOI: 10.1080/00218839.2008.11101473
MegaBee Study Report, 2007

MGB-07-EN-N01-07/24

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Véto-pharma is a pharmaceutical lab focused on animal health, with a special emphasis on protecting honey bee colonies. We create, manufacture, and distribute a range of products aimed at tackling the critical diseases and challenges threatening bee populations.

Véto-pharma is a pharmaceutical laboratory dedicated to honey bees health that develops, produces and markets a range of drugs and products designed to combat the key diseases and problems that threaten colonies.