Have any of you had hives side by side that has obviously different propolis sources? I have 2 hives, both open mated daughters of the same queen from the same yard side by side. One has the old pliable normal gummy brownish propolis, and the other is strictly bright orange crystalline, very hard, almost glass-like. I just found it interesting that the bees were propolis loyal like that. Not just that hive, I have had the orange before, but its always one or the other. G
Here in Jacksonville I usually see the hard propolis in all of the hives.
Out in Mississippi at Bud7, every hive was packed with the sticky, gooey propolis.
I brought home a queen that Bud gave me and put it in a nuc. A week later it absconded. 5 weeks ago I caught a swarm in a trap. Last week I opened it up and put it in my observation hive. They have the exact same gooey propolis that I have never seen before except at Bud's place.
I suspect that this is the same queen that absconded.
I did want a hive to produce propolis but not in my observation hive. So far they are not building it in the OH.
They are building wax real nice in there.
Jim
Must just be a genetic inclination. Strange huh. G
What is the difference between propolis and the pollen you see in the cells?
I am guessing that propolis is the stuff you see on the side of the boxes.
Some of mine brought in bright orange for about a week 2-3 weeks ago, now everybody is back to grey green sticky.
Quote from: flyboy on June 19, 2015, 01:38:53 AM
What is ethe difference between propolis and the pollen you see in the cells?
I am guessing that propolis is the stuff you see on the side of the boxes.
Pollen is food, propolis is an antibiotic glue/ filler.
Jim
Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 19, 2015, 10:33:04 AM
Quote from: flyboy on June 19, 2015, 01:38:53 AM
What is ethe difference between propolis and the pollen you see in the cells?
I am guessing that propolis is the stuff you see on the side of the boxes.
Pollen is food, propolis is an antibiotic glue/ filler.
Jim
Thanks.