Hello all, Thanks for the comments-especially the ones by Allen Dick Bob stated> >> The HFCS bees started dying at 6 days ( in both the 1974 & 2006 USDA-ARS >> tests). The HFCS bees continued to die at a greater rate than the sucrose >> fed bees until the end around day 29. My comments/questions: Allen responded in a later quote that (as he recalled)the difference in lifespan was about 10% on average....I take that to mean that if the average lifespan of a bee fed sucrose was 33 days, the average lifespan of a bee fed (their particular mix used ) HFCS would be be roughly 30 days. Allens "10%" figure is certainly PRACTICAL information that I could use in my deciding which/any syrup to use. You know that is not a lot of difference in my mind. It also makes me wonder if honey (as Bill Truesdale reported earlier) might turn out to produce an even lower lifespan. An observation here: I have noticed that there are several topics-really fundamental beekeeping questions- that are danced around year after year, but lacking in definitive answers. The feeding of bees and type of feed used is one of those. I would personally love to hear of a few studies that were "clinchers" that contained statistically verified USABLE data more than a thousand generalizations and speculations. A good example that clarifys what I am saying is the test done recently comparing two types of pollen substitues versus polllen. Oh how refreshingly clean and simple were the results!. I am truly grateful for the info I have recieved here, and I am aware that this forum is for discussuion of about any topics related to bees, but I would love to to see a place where some of the basic questions were addressed AND resolved. Even if the tests were made with the understanding that they were only for a particular type of bee and environmental condition, that would be helpful to lay the groundwork for a truely useful database. Now a question: Allen, you said that you "seemed to recall a study" saying that bees fed sucrose were longer lived. I certainly would appreciate any references you or anybody could point me to concerning the HFCS vs Sucrose vs honey. Also, Bob, if you had a hard number concerning the average lifesspan of bees in the studies you cited-sure would like to see it. As I mentioned, I have about 300 hives, and plan to go to at least 500, and I am raising queens that show mite resistance. By the way,Jerry, of the roughly 1200 hives I know of in the N. alabama region, I think we have been spared the scourge that is currently afflicting beekeepers elsewhere.Treatments are Apistan mostly, followed by Coumaphous and possibly others. I havent treated any of mine for about a year now(nor do i plan to).,about 100 untreated for 2- or 3 years. My winter deadouts seem roughly the same as I have observed from previous winters- from about 3 to 10%.. John Horton (wondering if these are windmills I am charging.....) -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---