Glossary - The Backyard Beekeeper - page 247

Propolis —sap or resinous materials collected from the buds and wounds of plants by
bees, then mixed with enzymes and used to strengthen wax comb, seal cracks and re-
duce entrances, and smooth rough spots in the hive.
Pupa —the third stage in the metamorphosis of the honey bee, during which the larva
goes from grub to adult.
Queen —a fully developed female bee capable of reproduction and pheromone produc-
tion. Larger than worker bees.
Queen cage —a small cage used for shipping and/or introduction of a queen into a
colony.
Queen cell —a special elongated cell, in which the queen is reared. Usually an inch or
more long, has an inside diameter of about ⅓ inch, and hangs down from the comb in a
vertical position, either between frames or from the bottom of a frame.
Queen cell cup —A round, cup-shaped structure that workers build on the bottoms of
frames to accommodate a future queen cell. The current queen must place an egg in the
cup before the workers begin building the rest of the queen cell. Queen cell cups are
built most often just before swarm behaviors begin.
Queen excluder —metal or plastic grid that permits the passage of workers but restricts
the movement of drones and queens to a specific part of the hive.
Queenright —a colony with healthy queen.
Rabbet —a narrow ledge on the inside upper end of a hive body or super from which
the frames are suspended.
Requeen —to replace existing queen with new queen.
Robbing —bees stealing honey, especially during a dearth, and generally from weaker
colonies.
Royal jelly —a highly nutritious glandular secretion of young bees, used to feed the
queen and young brood.