Newbee propolis question

Francus · June 13, 2011, 02:27:41 PM

I aquired a hive a little over a week ago and I inspected it over the weekend. The bees were doing fine, didn't find the queen but found larvae, and they had drawn out a couple of frames.

However, they also had coated everything in propolis. Tons of it. Gobs in fact. Much more than I (with limited experience) would have thought. Every frame was glued together and to the supers. The supers were stuck together and the screened top was stuck to the top super.

Is this normal, or just something to do with my particular bees (semi local mutts) or part of the country (Charlotte, NC)?

AliciaH · June 13, 2011, 02:59:02 PM

It differs from hive to hive, just like their personalities. You got a goopy group!

caticind · June 13, 2011, 03:50:14 PM

Depends on the bees, but...

Here in Central NC, my girls, who are mostly moderate propolizers, will goop on a lot more this time of year, right before the dearth.

Could be they are sealing up real tight to keep the robbers out? Including the beekeeper... :-D

AllenF · June 13, 2011, 04:59:02 PM

All that bee glue is good for the hive.

joebrown · June 14, 2011, 12:21:38 AM

I acquired a propolis happy hive last weekend from Shelby, NC. They are some of the most docile bees I have ever seen and I am thinking about breeding a few queens off of the hive! This hive was acquired by a guy three years ago and has not been opened until I opened them. They survived three years which included a wax moth infestation with no beekeeper interference! I was impressed! I would rather them seal the hive too well than not well enough!

Michael Bush · June 14, 2011, 01:20:29 AM

Propolis is good. It prevents disease. Marla Spivak has done some research (although we all knew it already) to prove it. :) It is frustrating, though, when you can't put a frame down because it's glued to your hand...

vmmartin · June 14, 2011, 09:13:56 AM

I would install a propolis trap an there and let them get after it. Very beneficial compound that propolis is.

joebrown · June 14, 2011, 01:12:56 PM

Anyone ever used a propolis trap? I asked the people at Brushy Mountain how productive they were and how propolis was sold. No one had ever used a propolis trap.

vmmartin · June 14, 2011, 10:19:59 PM

I used 4 last year and have installed about 6 this year. Last year 2 of the hives were filling a trap in about 2 weeks. The other 2 hives did not touch them. Scattered results so far this year. We are in a major drought this year, even worse than last year. I have a sneaking suspicion that dry conditions effect sap flow in the plants that the bees collect from in order to make the propolis. Therefore, propolis output is low just like honey production is so far.
I also think some hives like the extra ventilation. Once the trap is filled, just remove it, put it in the freezer for 10 minutes or so then the propolis will be very brittle and you can scrape it off the trap with a hive tool or spatula. The tines on our kitchen forks line up perfectly with the holes in my traps but don't tell my wife. :evil:

AllenF · June 14, 2011, 10:44:14 PM

Have you tried to market the propolis?

vmmartin · June 14, 2011, 10:59:35 PM

Not yet. I would like to. JP or maybe Bailey said that there is a guy around New Orleans that buys it. He uses it in some kind of stain I think. I have enough for my own consumption but not enough to market. It is one of my goals though.

Michael Bush · June 14, 2011, 11:57:17 PM

>Anyone ever used a propolis trap? I asked the people at Brushy Mountain how productive they were and how propolis was sold.

I have a couple but don't get time to do much with them. How productive is directly related to the genetics of the bees. If you have bees that want to propolize a lot or very little, makes all the difference.

joebrown · June 15, 2011, 12:34:10 AM

Quote from: vmmartin on June 14, 2011, 10:59:35 PM
Not yet. I would like to. JP or maybe Bailey said that there is a guy around New Orleans that buys it. He uses it in some kind of stain I think. I have enough for my own consumption but not enough to market. It is one of my goals though.

How do you consume propolis and why? I have heard it can be really healthy!

vmmartin · June 15, 2011, 09:31:03 AM

How do you consume propolis and why? I have heard it can be really healthy!
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You can chew it like gum right out if the hive. That is if you want it to be all stuck up in your teeth. :-D
I keep it in the freezer and get a pinch of it and warm it up under the faucet with just cool water and toll it into a pill shape and swallow it. I believe that propolis in combination with my increase in honey consumption has virtually eliminated my seasonal allergy reactions. Propolis also contains compounds proven to kill prostate cancer cells. It very high anti bacterial properties. It will keep ya real regular too, for number two. :shock: