2.16 Uses of pollen, royal jelly, venom and propolis

Question 1

What is bee venom used for?

Answer 1

Desensitisation of stings

Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 2

How is propolis collected and used by the bees?

Answer 2

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees from trees such as conifers and beech, especially around a wound in a tree. Bees pull pieces off with their mandibles, moisten it and transfer it to their pollen baskets for passage back to the hive.
• Unlike pollen, the foraging bee is unable to offload the propolis ball by itself, it needs help from the house bees.
• The propolis forager goes to the place where the propolis is required and the house bee(s) use their mandibles to remove the propolis and put in place.

Question 3

What is propolis used for?

ECAVES

Answer 3

Enbalm intruders
fill Cavities
Antibacterial
Varnish cells before brood laying
reduce the Entrance
Seal gaps making airtight and waterproof

• Propolis has anti-microbial properties. It is used to line cells prior to the queen laying, it is used as a bacterial shield on the inside walls of the hive.
• It is used to make the hive airtight and waterproof by sealing gaps and reducing the entrance. It is used to embalm the carcasses of intruders.
• In the wild it has a key role in helping to stabilise a colony’s nest.

Question 4

Other than honey and wax, list four other products which beekeepers can harvest from
a hive?

Answer 4

Pollen, propolis, royal jelly and venom.

Question 5

Pollen collection and uses

Answer 5

• Food supplement for humans and bees (pollen patties).
• Cosmetics
• Supplement for race horses and racing pigeons
• Marker for pollution
• Treatment for hay fever.
Collect using pollen screen at entrance
Collect, clean and frozen quickly

Question 6

Propolis collection and uses (ENCAVES)

Answer 6

Component of varnish and polish
Chewing gum
Treatment for a variety of human ailments including arthritis, asthma, toothache … (Uses its anti-bacterial properties)
Collected in corbicular (pollen baskets) but need fellow bees to help unload - unloaded at the site it’s required (not sroted)

Question 7

Royal Jelly collection and uses

Answer 7

• Cosmetics
• Creams and ointments for healing burns
• Race horse nutrition
• Food supplement
• (Promotes longevity)
Produced by hypopharangeal gland of nurse bees
34% sugar (mainly glucose)

Question 8

Uses of Propolis

Answer 8

• Bee venom therapy
• Arthritis
• Acute chronic lesions
• Desensitisation to bee stings
• Lyme disease