dry sugar is .... well.... dry

[FRAMEshift]

I've read recommendations for feeding dry sugar in winter.  I'm wondering how bees can eat it without water.  If they can't fly to a water source, how does the dry sugar get dissolved so they can digest it?

[AllenF]

Think about the moisture in a hive during the winter.    Also, they don't need that much water and in the summer time water is used for cooling.

[FRAMEshift]

So you're saying the bees produce moisture from their own metabolism and then drink it when it condenses?  Recycling water from their own bodies?

[CapnChkn]

I know the physiology of bees are somewhat different than in Humans, but I would venture, like humans in a survival situation you would not want to eat a lot of proteins unless you have access to water.  Sugars break down into water and carbon dioxide, proteins actually need water to digest.

[Michael Bush]

Condensation.

[AllenF]

Think about a glass of sweet iced tea on a hot day.  In no time there is water running all over the outside the glass.   Same as the hive, just on the inside of the hive, cold walls from winter and a warm cluster.   Walls will sweat.   That sugar will soak it up. 

[rdy-b]

So you're saying the bees produce moisture from their own metabolism and then drink it when it condenses?  Recycling water from their own bodies?

the watter comes from the AIR -RDY-B

[FRAMEshift]

Ah, I see.  Even an empty hive that is not fully ventilated will have some trapped warm moist air which will condense when the temperature outside the hive falls.  But I think bees do produce water vapor from their metabolism so that must also contribute to condensation.

[rdy-b]

  they produce by breathing -exhale warmer air -inhale cold air -condensation ocurs -RDY-B

[edward]

Try exhaling on a window or a mirror ,  :roll:

[AllenF]

What, nobody likes a glass of sweet ice tea on a hot day around here?

[rdy-b]

What, nobody likes a glass of sweet ice tea on a hot day around here?

I like to mix honey in the watter to make ice cubes and put them in my tea- :lol: RDY-B

[mudlakee]

I would like to have the hot weather.  Tony

[AllenF]

You will, in about 6 months.

[Finski]

  they produce by breathing -exhale warmer air -inhale cold air -condensation ocurs -RDY-B

Clayton California, the winter expert.   Here is -15C cold and 50 cm snow.
Bees go to tight cluster and they must to have food under their feet. If they have not, part of cluster will die.

Bees cannot use here crystal sugar during midd winter. They need drinking water to do it .

In the hive moisture goes into the honey when cap is opened. The reason is fructose and a low temperature. It takes water from hive air. When I make pollen patty, essetial part is to use fructose that the patty sucks moisture and it is soft. Without sucrose the patty dries up.

[rdy-b]

  YES indeed FINMAN  :lol: the word you search for is HYGRSCOPIC once again im glad we agree- 8-) RDY-B
http://beenatural.wordpress.com/natural-beekeeping/observations/condensation/

[pembroke]

I see Kelleys is offering  50lb bags of sugar of some sort.  So no drowning of bees and no liquid syrup to fool with. anyone familiar with this sugar? pembroke

[rdy-b]

  dry sugar  will save your bees if there is nothing else -or bees and beekeeper have not prepared themselves for winter provisions-but thats it -its not the best way to feed-and in some environments it just wont work as  FINSKI points out
 ;) RDY-B

[wd]

In my area, I try to be careful with dry sugar, syrup, candy boards or the like,  it attracts ants.

[rdy-b]

In my area, I try to be careful with dry sugar, syrup, candy boards or the like,  it attracts ants.

  I here yea -funny that the powder sugar crowd dosent have that problem-ants can drive the bees right out of there minds--RDY-B