propolis

[Kirk-o]

How do bees bring Propolis back to the hive?
kirko

[Brian D. Bray]

How do bees bring Propolis back to the hive?
kirko

The same way they bring back nectar and pollen. Depending on the source, if it's a thin sap then in the nectar stomach, if it's a consistancy more like tar, then they come back wearing on there legs and sometimes all over.

[reinbeau]

The thing on their legs is called a corbicula.  I don't know why but I really love that word!  :)  Corbicula = pollen baskets, which is really a misnomer, because they bring back more than just pollen back there.

[Kirk-o]

Thank you great data
kirk

[JP]

I believe I read in Bee Culture this yr that it was recently discovered that there are certain bees in the hive that are strictly propolis gatherers.

[Cindi]

JP, that is true, each bee that goes out into the field has jobs.  I even read that some bees "chose" the jobs that they prefer, don't know how much truth there is to that.

There is the bee that gathers pollen, bee that gathers nectar, bee that gathers water, bee that gathers propolis.  As the forager bee, they will take on these duties.

In my studies of the bees, I read that bees "know" when to gather nectar and water. For example, if a bee comes home and has gathered water and has a hard time getting the house bees to take the water from her, then she knows to go back out and get nectar, or vice versa.  Source:  Mark Winston -- The Biology of the Honey Bee.  A very in-depth and interesting book, one that I suggest for reading.

One of the most interesting chapters in his book was that on the "age related tasks of the honeybee".  Have a wonderful and beautiful day, great health.  Cindi

[Jerrymac]

I believe I read in Bee Culture this yr that it was recently discovered that there are certain bees in the hive that are strictly propolis gatherers.

For example, if a bee comes home and has gathered water and has a hard time getting the house bees to take the water from her, then she knows to go back out and get nectar, or vice versa.  Source:  Mark Winston -- The Biology of the Honey Bee.  A very in-depth and interesting book, one that I suggest for reading.

Well that kind of goes against what JP said

[JP]

An excerpt from June issue of Bee Culture, 2006

Propolis collectors: are specialized, more than 15 days old, have atrophied wax glands, work warm months, add saliva & wax, need help unloading.

"Apparently, propolis collectors are specialized foragers and not just unemployed nectar and pollen collectors."  As quoted from James E. Tew, pg 29, June 06, Bee Culture

[tig]

i've seen them coming in with the propolis in their pollen basket.  i'm not sure if it's age related or if there are bees strictly for propolis gathering....all i know is there are some colonies that have exceptional quantities of propolis much to my dismay! and usually those colonies have the black, very sticky kind that glues everything tight.  on a brighter note, that propolis has saved some colonies during a typhoon.  i've had outer covers fly off but the inner covers stay glued to the box.  those boxes with the sticky, black propolis didn't get wet because of the glued down inner cover...and this happened during a category 5 hurricane.

[Mici]

i think it has been last than 6 months since someone posted a link to an article about "swarm theory".
according to that, a bee becomes a propolis gatherer when she sees a crack needed filling.
everything else in the hive goes by the "swarm theory" so....i'd say it works with propolis too.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/images/GatheringPropolis2.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/RosinWaxAsPropolis.jpg

[tig]

great pictures michael...exactly what i see and from afar mistake for pollen.

[Cindi]

Does anyone remember my post about my sitting outside the apiary last summer?  I will define.  I was relaxing, with a super of near empty combs that needed some cleaning out of minute amounts of "stuff" we shall call it.  I was watching some of the bees gathering propolis that had was on these boxes.

I was shocked at the amount of time one single bee would spend gathering this already gathered propolis, I am not kidding. Some of the bees would spend 15-20 minutes doing their thing.  I got some really good close up pictures of them and I will repost them in this thread.  When I recall these past days of beautiful summer weather, it brings that feeling of euphoria to my soul.  Winter is the time of yearning for the spring and summer to come.  The time of cold, indoors, awaiting spring, and we know it is well on it way around the corner.  Not long now before the winter solstace and the days will become longer in length.  The beautiful days of summer, the bees and wonderful life experiences, soon to be by my side.  Have a great and wonderful day, Cindi

[JP]

Great pictures Cindi! These bees you have pictured look to me like they are using their proboscis.

Sincerely, JP