Tom, Beowulf Cooper discusses longevity in several places in The Honeybees of the British Isles: a good bedtime read, it will send you to sleep. To summarise it is a GOOD THING except possibly where the bees are susceptible to nosema or acarine (tracheal mite to our trans- Atlantic friends). As a keen student you must have a copy of Cooper within reach but if not let me know and I will dig out the ISBN no etc. If this thread continues I may quote a chunk. I agree with you about Wedmore. What other 70 year old book is a readable and as relevant? Chris Slade