Benefits of Propolis to Honey Bees: Newest Data - a talk by Marla Spivak

Apis mellifera collects resins from plants and deposits the resins in the nest cavity where they are called propolis. Resins are antimicrobial, secondary plant compounds composed of volatile and non-volatile terpenoids and/or phenolics that protect plants against infection. When colonies of A. mellifera nest in tree cavities, they line the nest interior with a propolis envelope, which serves many purposes, including waterproofing and preventing fungal decay of the hive walls. Colonies in standard beekeeping equipment made of smooth wood do not construct a propolis envelope. Our research shows that honey bees exploit the antimicrobial properties of resins to supplement individual immune function and fight off microorganisms and pathogens. Our studies on the microbiome communities revealed that a propolis envelope promoted the proliferation of beneficial microbes that support immune function.
Trials in a commercial beekeeping operation using specially constructed rough-interior boxes that stimulated the bees to make a propolis envelope resulted in large colony populations, and did not affect honey production. In general, encouraging honey bees to construct a propolis envelope has many benefits to colony health.
Marla provided this talk free of charge but invites donations to the work of her laboratory at the University of Minnesota. More details of the support your donation could provide, and a link to a donations page, may be found by following this beelab.umn.edu/give/spivak-ho.... Please give generously!