Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
If you look on Google to find the composition of propolis, you will find many headings
dealing with European propolis, American propolis, Indian propolis, South American
propolis and so on and so on, which, of course, indicates that propolis composition
varies enormously depending on its source. Some bees tend to produce more propolis
than others, and its presence can cause the beekeeper problems. Because bees close gaps
with it, they frequently stick the hive boxes together, which means using the hive tool to
separate them. The same goes for the frames. Lids are another target and are frequently
stuck down, especially if the lid undersurface is very close to the tops of the frames.
Defining propolis
In his 1998 paper, 'Review of the biological properties and toxicity of bee propolis
(propolis)', G.A. Burdock describes propolis as a sticky, dark-coloured material that
honey-bees collect from living plants, mix with wax and use in the construction and
adaptation of their nests, mainly to fill out cracks in the beehive. It has been used in
folk medicine since ancient times and is now known to be a natural medicine with
antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-tumoral, anti-oxidative, imunomodulatory and other
beneficial properties.
Bees use propolis for small gaps (approximately 6.35 mm (ΒΌ in) or less), while larger
spaces are usually filled with beeswax. Its colour varies depending on its botanical
source, the most common being dark brown. Propolis is sticky at and above room
temperature. At lower temperatures it becomes hard and very brittle.
Bees' use of propolis
Research shows that bees collect and use propolis for the following tasks. To:
prevent diseases and parasites from entering the hive;
reinforce the structural stability of the hive;
make the hive more defensible by sealing alternate entrances; and
