Anthony Morgan wrote:

> It is generally accepted that pine honeydew honey is not good for
> overwintering, however a study in Slovenia showed that carniolans
> tolerated it very well whereas italian bees overwintered poorly.

Mine were carniolans. It also depends on the honeydew. There are
different aphids that make honeydew and secrete different sugars, some
of which granulate quickly and some do not and some may not be helpful
but harmful. In addition, other trace minerals are in some and not
others. Especially potassium which has been implicated in poor
overwintering. So it is a bit complex and not just a bee race problem.
So what may work in one area may not in another because of the aphid
involved and the source of the honeydew.

It would also depend on the ability of the bees to go on cleansing
flights (which may explain the difference between Italians and
Carniolans) and so is also dependent on the kind of winter in that area.
For us, in Maine, it is a bad food for overwintering.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Me