What is it?

[iddee]

My son gave me 4 lb. of corn syrup solids. It is a white powder similar to powdered sugar. Would it be a good winter feed for the bees?

[Ray4852]

I wouldn’t feed my bees with it because if you mixed Karo with solid sugar and let it dry out you would get the same results. Why take a chance when You can buy a 4lb bag of regular sugar for 1.89.

[Jen]

Not in my book it wouldn't be good. I would have to go back and re-read the thesis that Riverbee provided for us in question of feeding corn syrup. And, I don't know what corn syrup solids is? or what is in this solid. Is this high frutose corn syrup?

[riverbee]

iddee, is there a manufacturer label on it, like cargill?

i think what you have is a bag of glucose.  i found some links for you to look at:

Grain Processing Corporation Maltodextrin and Corn Syrup Solids

describes how corn syrup solids are made:
"corn syrup solids begins with corn starch slurry from the wet milling operation. The starch in water slurry is hydrolyzed with food grade acids and/or enzymes. The hydrolysis is controlled to achieve the desired end point. The resulting syrup is then refined by filtering and carbon treatment prior to spray drying. The spray-dried powder is packaged or agglomerated and packaged."

and also:
"Corn syrup solids, (C6H10O5)n•H2O, CAS Reg. No. 68131-37-3, are defined by the FDA as dried glucose syrup (21 CFR 168.121) in which the reducing sugar content is 20 DE or higher."

FDA REGS defining dried glucose syrup:
FDA USDA 21 CFR 168.121Sec. 168.121 Dried glucose sirup/syrup. 

"a) Dried glucose sirup is glucose sirup from which the water has been partially removed and conforms to the specifications of 168.120, except that:

(1) The total solids content is not less than 90.0 percent m/m when the reducing sugar content (dextrose equivalent), expressed as D-glucose, is not less than 88.0 percent m/m, calculated on a dry basis; or

(2) The total solids content is not less than 93.0 percent m/m when the reducing sugar content, (dextrose equivalent) expressed as D-glucose, is less than 88.0 percent m/m, calculated on a dry basis.

(b) The name of the food is "Dried glucose sirup" or "Glucose sirup solids". When the food is derived from a specific type of starch, the name may alternatively be "Dried ___ sirup" or "___ sirup solids", the blank to be filled in with the name of the starch; for example, "Dried corn sirup", "Corn sirup solids", "Dried wheat sirup", "Wheat sirup solids", "Dried tapioca sirup", "Tapioca sirup solids". When the starch is derived from sorghum grain, the alternative name of the food is "Dried sorghum grain sirup" or "Sorghum grain sirup solids". The word "sirup" may also be spelled "syrup". "

another link:
Glucose Syrup Solid

"Glucose Syrup Solid is a flavorless, easily digested carbohydrate made from cornstarch. The starch is cooked, and then acid and/or enzymes (a process similar to that used by the body to digest carbohydrates) are used to break the starch into smaller chains (3-20 chains in maltodextrin). These chains are composed of several dextrose molecules held together by very weak hydrogen bonds.
Description:

White powder or granular white powder, available in a variety of particle sizes and DE* values. Non-sweet, nutritive saccharide polymers composed of D-glucose units linked primarily by alpha-1-4 bonds..* DE = dextrose equivalents, a quantitative measure of the degree of starch polymer hydrolysis. The higher the DE, the greater the extent of starch hydrolysis. Can be used for sweetness moderation. Maltodextrin with a DE of 5 is the least sweet, and is approximately 1/10 as sweet as sucrose. Maltodextrin with a DE of 25 is approximately 1/4 as sweet as sucrose.
Appearance:
Glucose Syrup Solid are obtained by the partial hydrolysis of starch whereby the basic polymeric structure is retained. Glucose Syrup Solid are water soluble, non-sweet products that are supplied as spray-dried powders. Glucose Syrup Solid are defined by the FDA as products having a DE high than 20.
They are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) food ingredients. Maltodextrins are excellent solids builders for standard and low-fat products. They are effective spray-drying aids for flavors, fruit juices, and other hard-to-dry products. They also have a neutral taste."

from cargill's website:

Cargill Corn Syrup Solids

Cargill Dry GL™ corn syrup

Glucose solids are obtained by enzymatic conversion of common corn starch. These nutritive carbohydrates in a DE range of 24 to 42 provide moisture retention and control crystallization. They influence key properties such as browning, hygroscopicity, and sweetness.
Functionality

    Inhibition of sugar crystallization
    Good dispersability
    Good solubility
    Good binding

Applications:
Bakery
Beverages
Beverages - Alcoholic
Confectionery
Convenience Foods
Soup, Sauces and Gravy Mixes
Dairy
Dressings
Snacks & Cereal
Meat & Fish
Meat

sorry for the 'thesis'.......
you asked....
looking this up, for me personally, based on what i read about it, i wouldn't want to take the chance on using it.

[Yankee11]

Somebody stole Iddee's  ID.

The real Iddee doesn't ask questions about bees, he only answers them.

Better change your password Iddee.

[iddee]

When I know it all, you can throw the dirt over me. I never quit learning.  It seems to me to be just corn syrup in dry form. I never heard of it until I was given 4 lb. yesterday. I put 2 lb. on a hive today. I'll tell you in about 30 days if the hive gained or if it died. It is more like powdered sugar than granulated, so the bees should be able to use it better. Whether it is a benefit or poison to them remains to be seen.

[Yankee11]

Guess that's one way to find out.

[Marbees]

Whether it is a benefit or poison to them remains to be seen.

I wonder how you managed to come back from Vietnam in one piece.
It had to be with a divine help, and I am thankful for that.

[Lburou]

The same thoughts ran through my mind Yankee....

Iddee, I read rb's thesis about that powder, (thanks rb).  In my view, it will boil down to the amount of ash in the powder.  Low ash is good for winter time (less urgent cleansing flights required) and higher ash levels will require frequent cleansing flights to fend off dysentery.  Might have been better to try it during a period of good weather... 

A trial with one colony is a smart way to test it.  When I used to day trade before the big bubble burst of April 1990, my good wife advised me not to invest any more money than I could afford to lose.....That would be my thought about your trial feeding of this material.  That said, I would try it: Small risks don't bother me too much (I was a Vietnam era helicopter pilot - gotta keep a perspetive). 

[iddee]

My dad always said don't gamble if you can't afford to lose. That's about the way I do it. Try what I don't mind losing.

I was in direct helicopter support with the first cavalry in "nam. Where were you?

[Slowmodem]

My dad always said don't gamble if you can't afford to lose. That's about the way I do it. Try what I don't mind losing.

I was in direct helicopter support with the first cavalry in "nam. Where were you?

I was in the first cav in fort hood texas in 1975 to 77.

[Lburou]

Iddee, I was actually in Korea during the time of the Pueblo, hence the wording 'Vietnam era'.  I flew Hueys and Jolly Green helicopters, both in Rescue missions.  Hard landings made continued flying status unlikely, so I moved on.   My hat is off to you brave men and women who serve, and have served, the cause of freedom.  I freely admit that I'm a coward, not a hero.  ;-)

[Jen]

Not going to tolerate that kind of talk Lee!    that's like saying that a woman who doesn't want to give birth isn't important. You put in your time no matter the circumstances ~ and Thank You! 

[brooksbeefarm]

Hey Slow i was in Fort Hood (white sand desert  ) didn't really care for the weather there . I'd have to look up what years it was (the 60's)? but it was the same time Elvis was there. Never got to talk to him , but we seen them come and take him off base in his pink caddy several times. Jack

[Lburou]

Jen, thanks, it was my pleasure to serve...it was 27 years total of mostly easy duty compared to today's conditions in the middle east. 

Jack, the speed limit on that white sands desert is 85 mph now, its like nobody wants to stay there very long, even today. 

[iddee]

The verdict is in. It's a very effective way to kill a hive. I spread paper and poured it on mountain camp style. It melted, ran down over the cluster and killed everything in the hive.

Corn syrup solids do not make good internal feed.      

[riverbee]

thanks iddee, i was curious as to how this went, sorry you lost the hive........

[efmesch]

The verdict is in. It's a very effective way to kill a hive. I spread paper and poured it on mountain camp style. It melted, ran down over the cluster and killed everything in the hive.

The verdict is in---regarding one way of trying to feed it to the bees.  Perhaps given a different way (say like in a frame feeder for example), maybe it would be great.

[LazyBkpr]

Ouch...  that was expensive to learn.. but I am going to file it away and remember in the event someone else pops a similar question..  OR, I ever end up with that stuff,, cargill isnt far away..

[iddee]

Muscatine and Buffalo, Ia., Lazy. I used to work on their machines in Buffalo.

Yes, Ef, that's why I explained the method. Other ways may work. It felt like syrup when I touched it. Tasted like it, too.