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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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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BEEKEEPING TIP: What to do With Old Brood Frames
Go through every box of frames and scrape the propolis of the lugs. Assess each frame and place in the appropriate pile. Frames that belong in the good pile are those that can be put straight into a hive next season, both foundation and drawn comb…
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Why White Clover is the Best Clover for Honeybees
White clover is renowned as the best clover for honeybees, but it only yields nectar under ideal conditions. Have you ever noticed a field or lawn blanketed in white clover yet observed only a few bumblebees and no honeybees visiting the flowers? That’s because honeybees require the right temperature to access the nectar. Why the …
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Wasp, Bumblebee or Honeybee? How to Tell the Difference
Every year, as autumn approaches, we get a lot of queries about bees that are not bees but turn out to be wasps. Concerned homeowners discover these ‘bees’ in their gardens, often in garden sheds and outhouses, compost bins, in the ground, and also in attics. Many want to know how to get rid of …
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