Hi Layne/All Another thing about soap is it reduces the characterisitc high surface tension of water. As a result the water, like substances with lower surface tension is able to fill the bees breathing apparatus and it dies. When these soap compounds get into the breathing system it would wreak havoc for the reasons Layne mentioned. (mainly cell wall disruption) Other things with low surface tension are chemicals like alcohol, benzene, petrol and so on. Keep well Garth Garth Cambray Camdini Apiaries Grahamstown Apis mellifera capensis Eastern Cape Prov. South Africa Time = Honey After careful consideration, I have decided that if I am ever a V.I.P the I. may not stand for important. (rather influential, ignorant, idiotic, intelectual, illadvised etc)