>>Maybe the list can help out here -- to the best of our knowledge, honeydew may be a poor nutrient, but isn't toxic. I can't comment to much on honeydew but, to my concern, my hives went into the winter with significant amounts of late fall honey in the deeps that began to crystalize. I've had an incredibly mild winter on Long Island (no real freeze as of today Jan. 6th!) and the bees have been taking flights. Hence, the crystalized honey has not been an issue. I've seen dandelions and forsythia blooming! Skunk cabage is coming up in the marshes. If the bees start brooding en masse and a cold winter sets in, colonies will be in trouble by March. They've already consumed disproportionate amounts of stores. On the other hand, I am saving on heating oil! >>We've now documented the bee loss problem in 10 states, many of which DO NOT have a fall honeydew flow. ... the colony collapse is rapid - 2 to 3 weeks or less. ... some clues that suggest that the current problem can be passed to other colonies, yards... It sounds like a virus. Bees on the verge of death are known to take a last flight away from the hive. It might be telling to locate some feral colonies in remote areas for a comparison. If the feral colonies are doing well, you can rule out honeydew or other nectar sources. Waldemar Long Island, NY -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---