Since the middle of the 90s, commercial starch-based products have also been available. These are made up of differing amounts of glucose and maltose as well as malto-oligosaccharides and isomalto-oligosaccharides, which are of higher molecular weight. Of these con - stituents, only glucose occurs in large quantities in honeys. Maltose can account for up to 8 %. The other oligosaccharides are only present in traces in honeys.

Starch-based feeds are thus altogether less similar to the natural nutrients of bees. Moreover, some of these products contain high ash and colour contents resulting from the production process. All in all, starch-based feeds are thus less compatible.

The Feeding of Honeybees (PDF, 528.27 KB)