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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Baton Rouge, Louisiana » Honey Bee Lab » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402032
Research Project: Using Genetics to Improve the Breeding and Health of Honey Bees

Location: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research

Title: Rough hives stimulate propolis production in support of bee health

Author
item Simone-Finstrom, Michael
item SHANAHAN, MAGGIE - University Of Minnesota
item Read, Quentin
item SPIVAK, MARLA - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Bee Culture
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2023
Publication Date: 4/1/2023
Citation: Simone-Finstrom, M., Shanahan, M., Read, Q.D., Spivak, M. 2023. Rough hives stimulate propolis production in support of bee health. Bee Culture. https://doi.org/10.55406/ABRC.22
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55406/ABRC.22

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: When wild honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies nest in hollow tree cavities, they coat rough cavity walls with a thin layer of propolis, derived primarily of plant resins. The resulting “propolis envelope” serves structural and therapeutic functions inside the hive. In this study, we monitored colonies in hive types with different surface texture treatments (rough wood boxes, boxes with propolis traps, and standard, smooth boxes) to determine if these surfaces encourage managed colonies to deposit more propolis. We examined the effect of propolis on colony health, pathogen loads, immune gene expression, bacterial gene expression, and honey production in stationary and migratory beekeeping contexts. Migratory rough box colonies were significantly larger than migratory control colonies by the end of year one. In both stationary and migratory operations, propolis deposition was correlated to a seasonal decrease and/or stabilization in expression of multiple immune and bacterial genes, suggesting that propolis-rich environments contribute to hive homeostasis. There was also a significant decrease in Melissococcus plutonius gene expression with non-significant decreases in clinical symptoms of European foulbrood and Varroa loads. These findings provide support for implementation of rough box hives as a means to support propolis collection and colony health in multiple beekeeping contexts.