HERBEE-VET – Herbal colony stimulant for bees

HERBEE-VET – Herbal stimulant for bee colonies

In spring, every beekeeper has seen it: some colonies take off fast, others stay half-speed even with a queen, stores, and pollen coming in. Often it’s not about sugar, it’s about the key bottleneck: the nurses’ hypopharyngeal glands. If nurses don’t produce enough jelly, brood development won’t match the queen’s potential, and the colony stays behind right when you want it building.

HERBEE-VET is a liquid complementary feed based on herbal extracts (nettle and greater celandine (Chelidonium majus)) in a glycerine base, designed to stimulate nurse activity and support colony strength. It comes from a long-standing Polish beekeeping practice (nettle juice added to syrup) but in a standardised, easy-to-dose format.

What you must know before using it: HERBEE-VET shows its intended effect only when there is adequate protein available, either from natural pollen or from a protein patty/substitute fed alongside. With protein covered, the manufacturer points to improved jelly secretion and better brood development. With no protein, it will not fix a pollen shortage; in that case, bees mainly benefit from the antioxidant effect of bioflavonoids. In plain terms: it’s not a pollen replacement, it’s a stimulant that boosts what good protein nutrition already enables.

When to use it: two clear windows. In spring, in thin 1:1 syrup, to support the build-up when the queen ramps up. In late summer, during feeding, to strengthen the young bee generation that carries the colony into autumn and winter.

A very practical extra: when added to syrup, it noticeably neutralises the syrup smell. That can help reduce robbing pressure, especially in summer when “sweet-smelling” feed can trigger trouble fast.

How to apply: depending on the season, via a feeder, as a spray on bees in the inter-frame alleys, or by light misting over frames covered with bees. Standard use is 2 to 5 administrations per colony. If you plan to increase frequency or number of applications, the manufacturer recommends consulting a specialist.

Dosage: shake well before use. In spring, use in 1:1 syrup at 25 ml per litre. Towards late summer, use in thick 3:2 syrup at at least 10 ml per litre.

Trials and realistic expectations: the manufacturer references field observations from a study on 120 colonies (treated vs control across multiple apiaries). No fixed percentage gains are claimed because results depend on colony condition and environment, but the key point remains: with adequate protein availability, that’s when the effect is expected to be visible.

Safety: used as directed on the label, the manufacturer indicates the product is safe, with a stated maximum margin up to 50% above the recommended dose. Don’t dose “by eye”, but if you keep the proportions, it’s a controlled, practical tool.

Yield and sizes: a 125 ml bottle prepares about 5 to 12.5 litres of syrup depending on concentration; the 1 litre size covers about 40 to 100 litres; and the 5 litre can covers about 200 to 500 litres. Available sizes: 125 ml, 1 litre and 5 litres.