Why don't bees propolise the Open Mesh Floor?

[Neils]

Well? Seriously, I have absolutely no idea and it's been bugging me for a while.

[Jimbo]

Hi Nellie,

Good question. I also have no idea. I did get a little propolis on an OMP when I left the varroa slide in but that particular strain loved to propolis everything. They even propolised the entrance hole in the nuc I made up! maybe they were feeling the cold!

Jimbo

[Trog]

Isn't it strange how some bees propolise everything in sight and others don't bother?

[Jimbo]

Hi Trog,

One of the old boys in our association once told me he purchased one of these Carniolan jobs years ago and it propolised everthing. He said it took a number of years before this trait was bred out. So to try and answer your question it may be the strain of bee you have.

Jimbo

[Trog]

This lot have been hybrid west coast bees ever since we had them. No Carniolans anywhere nearby as far as I know. Strangely, it's always the hive in one particular spot in the apiary - the one we habitually call the 'wood bees' because they're nearest the wood by a few feet. The current ones are not the descendents of the original wood bees, just occupying their site - and propolising merrily! They even have a different hive, so it's not anything to do with faulty spacing or anything like that!

[GRIZZLY]

The strain of bees that propolise the most are the Russian Caucasians NOT Carnolian.Your bees must be a throwback somewhere to the days when Caucasians were popular.I remember having some about 35 years ago when they would propolise their entrances to a series of small holes,everything else in the hive was firmly propolised together into a sticky mess especially on a hot day .Not pleasant to work with and not "pretty" bees being grey and hairy , worked well tho'.