Harvesting propolis does not harm bees if approached with care. Its volatile nature ensures that bees are constantly replenishing it, and beekeepers can safely collect surplus from seasonal honey supers or traps. By respecting the brood nest and winter stores, we can enjoy the benefits of propolis while allowing bees to maintain the powerful natural defenses that underpin their health.
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Does Harvesting Propolis Harm Bees?
Royal Jelly: What it is and why bees make it
Royal jelly is best understood through its role in the honeybee colony. This article explains what it is, how bees produce it, and why its biological function comes before its use by humans.
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Winter Solstice & Honeybees – What do bees do on the shortest day?
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, but for honeybees it is not an ending — it is a turning point. Long before spring arrives, the lengthening of daylight begins to guide what happens inside the hive.
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How to Choose the Right Wick for Beeswax Candles
When making beeswax candles, wick choice is everything. This practical guide explains how to choose the right wick for beeswax candles, how to test them for a clean, even burn, and why proper wick care makes all the difference.
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What Is Mad Honey – and Do Bees Make It in Ireland?
Mad honey is a rare toxic honey made when bees forage on rhododendron nectar containing natural grayanotoxins. Found mainly in Turkey and Nepal, it can cause poisoning.
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Artificial Bee Food: Solution or Symptom of a Failing System?
Scientists have developed artificial superfood for bees, said to contain everything they need to survive so that they don’t have to rely on pollen for colony survival. In normal circumstances, without pollen, honeybees cannot produce brood food to feed the larvae, but what will this development have for the future?
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BEEKEEPING TIP: How to Make Syrup for Bees
It is really straight forward to make syrup. Beginners often think it is complicated, because we’re talking about ratios and different sugars and different feeders. But it is dead simple.
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How to Feed Bees in Autumn – Beginner’s Guide
All honeybee colonies must have adequate stores to last them over winter. Navigating the delicate balance between overfeeding and underfeeding during the pivotal autumn season can be tricky for beginner beekeepers. This guide provides a compass for novice beekeepers for if and how to feed bees in autumn so they can survive the challenges of winter.
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Are Blackberry Brambles Good for Bees?
If you’ve passed a hedgerow in August, you would not fail to notice that the blackberries. I love picking and eating handfuls of sun warmed blackberries while out beekeeping to keep the energy levels up. But did you know that Blackberries or brambles are extremely good for honey bees and other pollinators?
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