propolis

greenismycolor · July 16, 2009, 10:52:32 AM

Hi everyone

My bees are producing way more propolis than last year. Everything is stuck tight. Has anyone else noticed this or what is your experience year to year?
green

luvin honey · July 16, 2009, 01:52:33 PM

I can't comment on from year to year, since this is my first :) But, as the season progresses, I am getting way more propolis. Could this be like the wooly caterpillar--an indication of the winter to come?

I hope you get more experienced answers to your question.

luvin honey

Natalie · July 16, 2009, 02:13:57 PM

I think it varies from colony to colony. I have one that has always loved to gum things up and then I have others who don't seem to touch the stuff.

greenismycolor · July 16, 2009, 02:20:27 PM

Thanks Luvin honey

This is just my second year :)

Could this be like the wooly caterpillar--an indication of the winter to come?
I was just wondering the same thing.! :)

Maybe we will get more comments along the way, I do value the experienced thoughts and advice, no way better to learn if you ask me. :rainbowflower:

Scadsobees · July 16, 2009, 03:47:24 PM

Any change in genetics? Some races produce more than others.

Eshu · July 16, 2009, 04:40:01 PM

Quote from: greenismycolor on July 16, 2009, 02:20:27 PM
This is just my second year :)

This is the key. The first year is usually fairly propolis free. I am guessing you are experiencing more normal amounts now...

Cossack · July 16, 2009, 04:56:14 PM

I live in Maryland and am experiencing the same thing.

way more Propolis than last year. However, we have had alot of cool evenings.

I may need to start looking for a snow shovel.

Lol.

Wynoochee_newbee_guy · July 20, 2009, 02:10:08 AM

my new bees are sticking everything up and fast crazy bee glue. I inspected my hive last week went and inspected it again to show a friend my bees and wow More propolis then I can scrape every thing glued shut tight with bur comb and propolis.

Natalie · July 20, 2009, 09:15:07 AM

I did a hive inspection last night on 5 of my hives and the two russians have been gluing everything up tight and the others not so much.
I don't know if its a race thing or not but I can only imagine how hard it will be to get into those hives come spring after we stop inspecting for the winter and they have time to gum things up again.

trapperbob · July 20, 2009, 06:02:37 PM

I,ve noticed this also when I pulled a super saturday off one of my hives the top entrance was almost closed with the stuff and there was much more propolis in all the other hives. Wonder what they know we don't

Wynoochee_newbee_guy · July 20, 2009, 09:00:06 PM

Maybe they are pepairing for a new ice age :-D :roll:

Brian D. Bray · July 21, 2009, 02:18:32 AM

Caucasian bees really like to propolize everything. Much more than Italians do.
However, my old Mentor once old me that the more propolis a hive makes, compared to previous years, the more likely a colder winter ahead.

Wynoochee_newbee_guy · July 21, 2009, 02:43:06 AM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on July 21, 2009, 02:18:32 AM
Caucasian bees really like to propolize everything. Much more than Italians do.
However, my old Mentor once old me that the more propolis a hive makes, compared to previous years, the more likely a colder winter ahead.

Ditto i have Italians and I never seen this much Propolis

trapperbob · July 21, 2009, 09:03:42 PM

Does that mean I can expect along ice fishing season again? :-D

harvey · July 21, 2009, 10:44:35 PM

Just wondering if it would be a good idea to put bales of straw around the only hive I have to keep wind off of it. Where the hive is located will get about two feet of snow normally and wind off of a pond?

Wynoochee_newbee_guy · July 22, 2009, 02:02:11 PM

Quote from: trapperbob on July 21, 2009, 09:03:42 PM
Does that mean I can expect along ice fishing season again? :-D

Yes do that keep the wind off the hive.

greenismycolor · July 23, 2009, 06:11:13 PM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on July 21, 2009, 02:18:32 AM
Caucasian bees really like to propolize everything. Much more than Italians do.
However, my old Mentor once old me that the more propolis a hive makes, compared to previous years, the more likely a colder winter ahead.

Hi Brian, mine are Italians, so goes your old mentors saying, with alot of other things here that indicate the possibility of a colder winter. The spider builds their web higher off the ground, corn shucks are thicker and so forth...you have any different ones for your area? We are already having the signs of fall comming, the little solid yellow butterfuly is flying south already :yippiechick: I love the fall!!!!
I don't mind they stick everything together if it saves them through the winter....gonna be long one if we don't get a goldenrod flow, I'm already feeding mine. They have not stored a drop for me or them this summer, that heavy spring rain must have washed everything away. Anyway I hope they keep on doing what they do :bee:
Anyone wanna share their folklore.....it would be great to read it, I love that stuff toooo!!!

patti

RyanB · July 23, 2009, 06:29:41 PM

I have 3 hives. Only one of them is going gangbusters with the propolis, and it is a TON of it. Other 2 hives have very little, one of which was a feral swarm.

greenismycolor · July 23, 2009, 06:50:57 PM

RyanB
Are your other hives Italian? or?

patti