BEE NUTRITION
Dearth periods are defined as periods of unavailable nectar which cause a decline in colony development. A drastic cut in food supply as experienced in rainy weather or a weed control measure in our apiary is often followed by abscondment or in exposed comb for subsequent wax-moth invasion and abscondment. When food is available again, an early part of the nectar flow is used up for colony development leaving only the late part for excess honey.
Beekeeping areas in the country can roughly be divided into two categories: coconut and non-coconut. Coconut areas are better areas because coconut inflorescences are always available all the year round. In many instances inadequate management practices do not usually result in colony abscondment, a total loss for the beekeeper.
Beekeepers in non-coconut areas, on the other hand have to monitor the nectar sources constantly because immediate abscondments follow drastic reductions in nectar. Although nectar is excessive during the flowering of fruit trees plentiful in these areas, the periods are short (staggered for 4 - 6 weeks). These areas are also naturally low in feral colony numbers to replace lost colonies.
Supplementary diet seem to be the answer to relieving the colony from the stress of dearth periods.
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