Bee strength, seasonal variation and their impact on wax and mechanical impurities of propolis

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees from plants around the have. It is masticated by the bees, salivary enzymes and beeswax added, then applied to the combs and walls of the hive, thereby insulating and reinforcing the hives Propolis impurities were more, when less propolis was collected by the bees during spring (60.53 and 61.50%) and Summer (41.06 and 42.26%) as compared to those of Autumn season (34.00 and 35.00 %) from respective places Srinagar and Coimbatore. Impurities in propolis sample from low bee population (5100-7300 bees/colony) were more (66.60 and68.03%) as compared to the samples from stronger colonies (38.66 and39.63%) having bee population stronger of 12400 to 13700 bees form Srinagar and Coimbatore colonies respectively. May be due to less amount of propolis collected by weak colonies to meet propolis demand they add beeswax to it.