Why care about Propolis with Marla Spivak

Every beekeeper at one point has dealt with propolis. Whether you have had it stuck to your gloves, suit, or clumped on your hive tool, propolis can bee a nuisance. Where does it come from? Why do bees produce so much? Why should beekeepers care?
Our expert guest panelist, Marla Spivak, will enlighten us on where bees collect this resin, how it benefits our colonies, and how beekeepers can encourage the production of propolis in their bee hives.

[FrederickDunn]

I am so grateful that one of my viewers suggested this video to me! Some of my hygienic bees are heavy propolis producers and I knew it was antibacterial but didn't know the connection to the bee feeding during development. I use BeeWeaver survivor hygienic stock and they tend to be heavy propolis gatherers often creating puddle shaped pads particularly on the inner cover. FASCINATING - thank you for sharing the wonderful work that Marla and her team are working with. Mouth infection treatment? wow.

[BIBBA_UK]

This is an excellent research article on the benefits of Propolis. There is very little written on the subject elsewhere, but the liberal use of it by bees in the wild, and its antibiotic properties, is one reason why free living bees are healthier that bees kept in hives. The sound quality isn’t brilliant in places, but the content more than makes up for it.

[grounded]

Based on the studies they did of what was promoting a greater collection of tree resins, this would explain why the bees are lining the entire inside of a tree hive vs a bee box in your back yard.
The trees have a natural anti fungal property (the resins) that prevent the growth of fungi.
When the tree is damage, dead or dying, the damage, dead or dying wood looses the anti fungal barrier, thus allowing fungi to grow.
We see this in the production of mushroom growth on damaged, dead and dying trees.
The lumber we use to build our bee boxes has gone through a heat process to dry the lumber (kiln drying) and in turn destroying most fungal spores that may have been present.
Rough sawn lumber that has not been kiln dried will have fungal growth at some point.
The only time I have seen fungal growth on my kiln dried lumber is when it gets wet and does not dry out quickly.
You will see fungal growth on bottom boards that set on pallets directly on the ground.

When I allow my bees to draw out natural foundation and comb they are using propolis (resin) mixed with the wax to build the foundation and I have never seen any noticeable disease in my colonies.

[jkrsvks]

John here. Beekeeping teacher in the Netherlands...what an amazing research
These kind of research helpt us so much. I will use this for my students. Also I will try to platter some beehives with different rough materialen and check the results.
Question about the ethanol/propolis solution: any recipe available.? Pure ethanol seems to be more expensive here then 96% alcohol .

[Ann-nhke]

I know this post is 2018 so this may already be known or it might not be the reason - why cottonwood tree sap. I also keep bees and horses. One of the things about cottonwood is that horses have been fed the bark for thousands of years. Cottonwood bark is high in vitamins and minerals. Don't know if that will get to the researchers or if its the reason but hope it helps.

[lloydfreeman]

Wonder if vinegar and mustard, which is from Turmeric, which are both virile substance to kill bacteria and viruses, if painted inside the hive would also create a healthy environment for the bees?

[BrianJMader]

I’m in Wisconsin, just getting into bees this year, ordered a nuc of Caucasian bees because I want heavy propolis production👍

[bogdangheorghe]

Thanks for this very useful study. I would like to know if the administration of propolis extract in sugar syrup helps bees to strengthen their immunity.

[RaMa-krgm]

extremely cool report. not a fan of actually making a life sick only for research purposes, but for the sake of it im wondering, how does someone actually introduces AFB into a colony ? i mean, it's transmitted by a spore, but what condition does the hive need in order to appear? or it's just like wild yeast that's just airbourne.


Thanks and best regards!

[Jerseyhighlander]

I took notice that you were trying to figure out why the bees don't collect more resin from conifers instead of cottonwood but you are making the hives from Pine wood....Essentially already infused with those resins.

[rickymanning]

Good presentation! Thanks Marla! Keep up the Good Work!

[wnd]

Amazing, thanks Marla for all your work.

[dawndominick]

Very interesting and good information. It's really a shame (and disturbing) though how 'scientists' are so callous about killing the bees for their research.

[TheBaconWizard]

OMG, Bees have allergies! Joking aside, this was very useful and informative, thank you.

[Solar_Apartment]

Awesome presentation! Where might one obtain propolis traps like those used for the hive walls?

[gunnargervin]

70% EtOH made me lose interest; propolis' main effect comes after 5-20 minutes chewing..

[elenaolivares]

How much is microwaves from cell phone towers effecting our pollinators???

[bransler]

The rough boxes are an interesting idea. Do you think it would be worthwhile to rough up the smooth insides of current hive boxes (with, say, coarse sandpaper or a wire brush)?

[SFERDIAN]

Good presentation
I mix propolis for health remedies
Weigh propolis about 100g to 200g ethyl alcohol ( 96 proof grain alcohol ) leave in jar and shake daily for min 2 weeks then strain the wax and residue out let it dry for a day then weigh the wax and subtract from the leftover in the jar to find out the concentration of the propolis tincture in the alcohol
Recipe is from Romania in Eastern Europe and is used for health remedies according to concentration
Over 50% propolis is used in cancer treatment and at lower for skin care and viruses

[greghill]

systemic pesticides are killing our bees