diff --git a/forestry_bees/apiary.lua b/forestry_bees/apiary.lua
index ea63930..0eb6e97 100644
--- a/forestry_bees/apiary.lua
+++ b/forestry_bees/apiary.lua
@@ -105,9 +105,8 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
     local can_breed, can_live
     local actionable
     
-    local breedtime = 1 --hardcoded for now
-    local lifetime = 10
-    local needed_time = 200 --just so that the formspecs doesnt make an error
+    local breedtime = 1
+    local needed_time = 1 --just so that the formspecs doesnt make an error
     
     while elapsed > 0 and update do
         update = false
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
 		--if actionable check if things are ready
 		if actionable then
       --ternary expression if can_breed it evals to breedtime else lifetime
-      needed_time = (can_breed and {breedtime} or {lifetime})[1]
+      needed_time = (can_breed and {breedtime} or { tonumber(forestry_bees.settings:get("lifespan_multiplier")) * minetest.deserialize(monarchlist[1]:get_meta():get_string("genes"))["lifespan"][1]})[1]
       el = math.min(el, needed_time - src_time)
 			src_time = src_time + el
       
diff --git a/forestry_bees/forestry_bees.conf b/forestry_bees/forestry_bees.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..052b2b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/forestry_bees/forestry_bees.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+--base multiplier for bee lifespan, default value is 27.5 to have parity with MC-forestry
+lifespan_multiplier = 1.0
diff --git a/forestry_bees/init.lua b/forestry_bees/init.lua
index 2a74b11..f1921e3 100644
--- a/forestry_bees/init.lua
+++ b/forestry_bees/init.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 --definitions that can be used around
 forestry_bees = {}
+forestry_bees.settings = Settings(minetest.get_modpath("forestry_bees") .. "/forestry_bees.conf")
 
 dofile(minetest.get_modpath("forestry_bees") .. "/helper.lua")
 dofile(minetest.get_modpath("forestry_bees") .. "/register.lua")
diff --git a/forestry_bees/register.lua b/forestry_bees/register.lua
index 1cefd4d..b849dc2 100644
--- a/forestry_bees/register.lua
+++ b/forestry_bees/register.lua
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ minetest.register_node("forestry_bees:forest_beehive", {
   drop = {
       max_items = 3,
       items = {
-          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("princess", {type_gene = {"forest","forest"}, fertility = {2,2}})}},
-          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("drone", {type_gene = {"forest","forest"}, fertility = {2,2}})}},
+          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("princess", {type_gene = {"forest","forest"}, fertility = {2,2}, lifespan = {10,10}})}},
+          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("drone", {type_gene = {"forest","forest"}, fertility = {2,2}, lifespan = {10,10}})}},
           {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {"forestry_bees:honey_comb"}}
       }
   }
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ minetest.register_node("forestry_bees:meadow_beehive", {
   drop = {
       max_items = 3,
       items = {
-          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("princess", {type_gene = {"meadow","meadow"}, fertility = {3,3}})}},
-          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("drone", {type_gene = {"meadow","meadow"}, fertility = {3,3}})}},
+          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("princess", {type_gene = {"meadow","meadow"}, fertility = {3,3}, lifespan = {10,10} })}},
+          {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {forestry_bees.Bee("drone", {type_gene = {"meadow","meadow"}, fertility = {3,3}, lifespan = {10,10}})}},
           {tool_groups = {"scoop_tool"}, rarity = 2, items = {"forestry_bees:honey_comb"}}
       }
   }