Honey can be a beneficial additive to some insect artificial diets, particularly due to its readily available sugars,antimicrobial properties, and water activity control. However, its variability and lack of complete nutrition require careful consideration and may necessitate additional components in the diet.

For many insects, researchers have developed effective artificial diets without honey. These diets often use a combination of more defined sugars (like sucrose or fructose) along with other essential nutrients to optimize insect development.