To meet the nutritional needs of a honey bee colony, bees use feedback loops, pheromones, and dancing to gather pollen and nectar from floral resources. Nectar is converted into honey and pollen is converted into bee bread for storage within the hive. When fresh and stored resources run low in managed colonies, beekeepers can provide supplemental carbohydrates and protein to help their bees survive. This bee-Learning Short Course explores the nutritional needs of honey bees during development, at the individual level, and of the entire colony.

This short course includes the following lessons:

1. Nectar and Honey
2. Pollen
3. Larval Diet
4. Adult Diet
5. Feeding Bees
6. Food Collection, Processing, and Consumption

Important Information

• Software requirements: For the best user experiece use Chrome when accessing this course. Some features in this course are not be compatible with other internet browsers. 
• Lessons in this course overlap with lessons in the Apprentice and Master Beekeeper online courses, part of the UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program.
• bee-Learning Short Courses are completely self-paced, although must be completed within 60 days of registering.
• You will receive a certificate of completion for this course via email after you have passed the final assessment and completed the course exit survey.
• No refunds will be granted for this course after the course has been accessed.