Hi: As per sucrose solutions, I may have tunnel vision. This is not late spring for us, we still have snow showers. At this time of year in Montana, we have fed both weak and strong sugar solutions. Our experience with weak sugar solutions fed to packages was not good, the growth rate and behavior of the bees fed the weak solutions did not match those fed the stronger sugar solution. However, the metabolic costs, moisture conditions, weather stress, etc. can be very different at this time of year from region to region. An overwintered colony with crystallized honey stores will be hauling water. Sugar solutions can simlute a nectar flow and stimulate activities such as egg-laying. My impression from the original note was that the sugar was being fed to start a colony as its sole food supply, not to simply stimulate it. Bottom line, I suspect much of the 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 arguement is "seat-of-the pants" more than it is based on solid evidence. I don't have adequate data to examine all of the ramifications, maybe some of the physiologists in the group do. Thanks for pointing out the possible error of my hasty conclusion. Jerry Bromenshenk The University of Montana [log in to unmask]