Every time I set my hive tool down bees would collect on it.I had not had the tool in honey and so I stopped to watch to see why they were so interested in my hive tool.
They were collecting the propolis.
On a table I had a hive feeder sitting on end, waiting to be scraped down with my hive tool.
But the bees had got there first.
This time I could see they actually were attaching the comb to their back legs.
This wax is what some people call burr comb--a mixture of propolis and wax.A few days later I actually witnessed a bee with proplis on both hind legs.
She also grabbed a piece in her jaws and tried to fly off with it, but she dropped it. I witnessed this behaviour again on another day.
This wax is what some people call burr comb--a mixture of propolis and wax.A few days later I actually witnessed a bee with proplis on both hind legs.
She also grabbed a piece in her jaws and tried to fly off with it, but she dropped it. I witnessed this behaviour again on another day.
I believe these are my bees from swarms I collected. They need propolis to seal up those frames and what better place to find it than the discarded bits I scrape off in the yard.I discarded them but to the bees they are like gold. So now I put the scrapings on a table and the bees collect there to gather it.
2 comments:
I wish succesuful and productive year,with my best wishes.
And to think I use to wipe propolis off on the nearest branch. I think I will pile up in 1 spot for the bees to reclaim.
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