Well, I thought that a new queen would change the hygiene of this hive. The other queen swarmed earlier this year, but this colony is still a dirty, gunky one. Perhaps it has to do with the hive body being made from 1 1/2" thick boards rather than the usual thinner 3/4" board. At anyrate, she lays a pretty frame of brood, so she is a keeper. It's just that I gunk up my fingers with the gooey mess. The hive smells good. No pests. Healthy looking eggs and larva. Beats me.
I don't really view propolis as an indicator of a dirty or unhealthy hive, actually the opposite. Propolis is antimicrobial and there is research to suggest that hives with more propolis are healthier than hives with less. Wild bees living in tree cavities actually coat the entire surface of the walls in a thick layer of propolis, which is referred as a propolis envelope. I let my bees gunk up all they want with proplis, until it gets to the point I can't get frames out anyway. I'm actually thinking about roughing up the interior surfaces of some of my boxes to see if they'll coat it. I'm curious to see if it helps with colony health and/or winter insulation.
Buds bees in Mississippi used to make tons of propolis. Every hive was gooey with propolis and it was thick. Try collecting it. If you can find a buyer it sells for about $7 an ounce.
Jim Altmiller
Don't fight it Bob it is a good thing but why are your frames spaced apart? Keep them tight unless they are honey frames.
> I don't really view propolis as an indicator of a dirty or unhealthy hive, actually the opposite. Propolis is antimicrobial
I have read the same... my view is as yours.
I like adding it to my swarm traps.
I know propolis is good... I guess my question is how much. Is more always better? Are my other two hives sufficient with their red/amber, somewhat sticky propolis, or is this grey, gunked on, gooey propolis even better (superior?), and the other two deficient?
Quote from: Bob Wilson on May 26, 2021, 08:15:44 AM
I know propolis is good... I guess my question is how much. Is more always better? Are my other two hives sufficient with their red/amber, somewhat sticky propolis, or is this grey, gunked on, gooey propolis even better (superior?), and the other two deficient?
I think it could simply be that the bees are collected resin from different sources. I wouldn't assume one is better or worse, perhaps they are just different.
Quote from: sawdstmakr on May 23, 2021, 10:23:05 PM
Buds bees in Mississippi used to make tons of propolis. Every hive was gooey with propolis and it was thick. Try collecting it. If you can find a buyer it sells for about $7 an ounce.
Jim Altmiller
My bees are abundant propolis producers.
Jim I watched a video of a fellow in Georgia which had propolis traps. I thought of investing in a few for experience but never did because I could not find a buyer.