Propolis and its purposes

Propolis or propolis is a resinous mixture produced by bees by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate collected from tree buds, sap, or other plant sources.It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in beehives.Propolis is used for small gaps (about 6 mm (1⁄4 in) or less),while gaps larger than bee spaces (about 9 mm (3⁄8 in)) are usually filled with a burr comb. Its color varies depending on the plant source, but is most commonly dark brown.Propolis becomes sticky above 19 °C (66 °F), while at lower temperatures it becomes hard and brittle.While foraging, worker bees mainly collect pollen and nectar, but also water and plant resins needed to produce propolis.The chemical composition and properties of propolis depend on environmental conditions and harvested resources.

Type 

Mixed types of propolis found in temperate European countries include two or more sources of compositionally defined plant resins (plant species), such as aspen, mediterranean, poplar, pacific, brazilian green, brazilian red, and mango tree types of propolis.

Purpose

Bees seal their hives with propolis to protect the colony from elements such as rain and cold winter drafts.

Propolis features may include:

1.Strengthen structural stability and reduce vibration

2.Provides better insulation for the hive and reduces water loss

3.Provides protection against pathogens through antifungal and antimicrobial properties

4.Make hives more resistant to parasites and predators by reducing existing entrances (in wild bee colonies) to a single "choke point"

5. Mitigates spoilage inside the hive bees normally take waste out of the hive and take it with them, but if a small lizard or mouse enters the hive and dies there, the bees may not be able to get through the hive entrance.In that case, they would try to seal the body in propolis, basically mummifying it, making it tasteless and harmless.