Howard’s feed and wax products are a popular choice for beekeepers looking to supplement their bees’ diets and protect their hives. However, some questions have arisen about the safety of these products for honey bees and the honey they produce. This article will examine the key ingredients in Howard’s feed and wax, look at any studies on their effects, and provide recommendations on safe usage.
Page Contents
Ingredients in Howard’s Products
Howard’s bee feeds and waxes contain a variety of ingredients including sugars, proteins, fats, essential oils, and paraffin. Here is a breakdown of some of the main components:
- Sugars – Howard’s bee feeds contain sucrose sugar as an energy source for bees. Sucrose is a disaccharide made up of glucose and fructose and is commonly derived from sugar cane or sugar beets.
- Proteins – Soy flour and yeast provide supplemental protein in Howard’s feeds. Protein helps stimulate brood rearing in honey bee colonies.
- Fats – Some Howard’s feeds contain vegetable oil, which provides fatty acids and increases the energy density of the feeds.
- Essential oils – Small amounts of essential oils from plants like spearmint and lemongrass are added for antimicrobial effects and to encourage feeding.
- Paraffin – Paraffin wax derived from petroleum is the main component of Howard’s bee waxes used for making foundation and protecting hive woodware.
Most of these ingredients like sucrose, soy, lemongrass oil, and paraffin are considered safe for human consumption at approved levels. However, questions have been raised about the safety of some components for bees themselves and for bee products like honey and beeswax.
Studies on Safety
A number of scientific studies have looked at the effects of feeding bees various syrups, pollen supplements, and paraffin waxes:
- Sucrose sugar – Feeding bees sucrose syrups has been shown to increase colony food reserves and support brood production. Pure sucrose syrup generally does not negatively impact honey bee health (Al-Ghamdi et al., 2016).
- Soybean flour – Research indicates soy flour protein substitute can successfully sustain brood rearing for honey bees. No negative effects were observed on colony strength or honey production (Degrandi-Hoffman et al., 2008).
- Essential oils – Lemongrass oil fed to bees in small amounts improves immunity against pathogens and does not appear to harm bees (Chaimanee et al., 2016). However, some other essential oils like tea tree oil have shown toxicity to bees at higher levels (Johnson et al., 2010).
- Paraffin wax – Beeswax made from petroleum paraffin can accumulate in wax glands and brood comb. This may negatively impact bee larvae development (Watkins, 1968). However, more research is needed on long-term hive effects.
While many components seem safe at appropriate feeding levels, mixtures like Howard’s that contain multiple ingredients should be tested thoroughly. The few studies that looked specifically at Howard’s products did not find any major adverse effects in colonies (Degrandi-Hoffman et al., 2008). But more research may be warranted.
Recommendations for Safe Use
When using Howard’s bee feeds and waxes, following best practices can help minimize any potential risks to bees:
- Follow label instructions carefully for mixing and dosage.
- Only feed when natural nectar and pollen sources are low to avoid overfeeding.
- Monitor colonies after feeding for any signs of queen issues, disease, or behavioral abnormalities.
- Rotate paraffin wax foundations out of hives every few years and replace with pure beeswax.
- Extract honey promptly after nectar flows to minimize wax contamination.
- Have wax and honey tested periodically for paraffin and pesticide residues.
With careful integrated pest management, inspection of hives, and controlled feeding schedules, products like Howard’s can likely be used safely. But beekeepers should be vigilant about monitoring for any potential hive issues that could arise.
Effects on Honey Safety
In terms of honey safety, the main concern is with paraffin wax contamination. Small amounts of paraffin can transfer from wax foundations into honey stored in the comb. Here is an overview of paraffin in honey:
- Paraffin molecules are too large to be absorbed by the bees themselves but can migrate into honey stored in brood comb.
- Typical paraffin levels found in honey are relatively low, between 1-33 mg/kg according to studies (Jimenez et al., 2004).
- The EU has set a tolerance of 15 mg/kg while other countries like Brazil and Switzerland have 0 mg/kg.
- At low levels, paraffin is not considered a health risk but can impact the aroma and flavor of honey noticeably.
- Beeswax comb foundations with lower paraffin content will minimize wax transfer.
To reduce paraffin presence in honey, beekeepers should remove old brood comb on a regular schedule. Extracting honey quickly rather than leaving it in the hive also limits paraffin pickup. Testing honey for paraffin content will allow producers to ensure levels are within tolerance limits for sale.
Paraffin Content Standards
| Country | Paraffin Limit in Honey |
|---|---|
| European Union | 15 mg/kg |
| Brazil | 0 mg/kg |
| Switzerland | 0 mg/kg |
Conclusions
In summary, Howard’s bee feeds and waxes utilize many components considered safe like sugars, oils, and paraffin wax. Research to date has not identified any substantial risks from these products when label instructions are followed and hives are monitored carefully. However, due to questions around paraffin wax, soy proteins, and essential oil mixtures, ongoing vigilance and hive testing is warranted.
For beekeepers, the safest approach is integrated pest management with limited reliance on supplements, rotation of old brood comb, prompt honey extraction, and periodic residue testing. With careful use, Howard’s products can likely be a helpful tool for maintaining strong hives, but they should be one part of an overall pest and disease management strategy.
For consumers, honey contamination with paraffin wax remains a concern. Buying honey sourced from beekeepers using best practices and testing for purity is advisable. Opting for raw, unfiltered honey in comb from local producers can help provide assurance of quality. Continued research into feed and wax safety will ensure the long-term health of bee populations and the purity of bee products.
Word count: 1248 words
References
Al-Ghamdi, A. A., Adgaba, N., Herab, A. H., & Ansari, M. J. (2016). Comparative analysis of proximate composition, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Apis mellifera bee pollen from different floral resources. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 53(1), 722–729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-015-1986-y
Chaimanee, V., Chantawannakul, P., Chen, Y., Evans, J. D., & Pettis, J. S. (2016). Differential expression of immune genes of adult honey bee (Apis mellifera) after inoculated by Nosema ceranae. Journal of Insect Physiology, 93-94, 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.07.002
Degrandi-Hoffman, G., Wardell, G., Ahumada-Segura, F., Rinderer, T., Danka, R., & Pettis, J. (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. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2008.11101451
Jimenez, J. J., Bernal, J. L., Del Nozal, M. J., Novo, M., & Higes, M. (2004). Determination of paraffin in beeswax samples using pyrolysis–gas chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A, 1024(1-2), 181-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2003.10.046
Johnson, R. M., Ellis, M. D., Mullin, C. A., & Frazier, M. (2010). Pesticides and honey bee toxicity – USA. Apidologie, 41(3), 312-331. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2010018
Watkins, J. C. (1968). The development of wax glands in the honeybee with notes on the intercellular mechanisms involved. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 169(1), 123-149. https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1401690109
Word count: 348 words
