Propolis

Propolis or bee glue is a resinous mixture that honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the beehive. Propolis is used for small gaps, while gaps larger than the bee space are usually filled with burr comb.

Its color varies depending on its botanical source, with dark brown as the most common.
Propolis is sticky above 19 °C (66 °F), while at lower temperatures, it becomes hard and brittle.

Back to Bee Biology →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

MOREBEES

Beekeeping guides, honey production, and apiary management tips.

Get new guides by emailOccasional emails. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

InformationAbout Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Affiliate Disclosure Cookie Policy

Every species, image, fact, and figure is drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses. No content is AI-generated.