I cannot disagree more  than the absurd idea that feeding bees sugar .syrup is better than honey.First of all sugar is devoid of all nutrient, be it minerals,vitamins, or enzyme. Second the ash content of sugar after it is digested and assimilated is 3.2 on the PH scale, very acidic, when you compare bees blood to be 7.2 on the PH scale, much like the human blood. Given the continuous use of sugar syrup will eventually lower the immune system of the bees,and be subjected to all kinds of disease,and much of are problem arises from this very fact. Honey on the other hand after it has been digested and assimilated, and i under score digested and assimilated,because their is a big difference in the PH scale before and after digesting the honey, is 7.8 to 8.5 depending on the type of honey., with all the nutrient the bees should have to survive the winter

george c seferiadis
beekeeper