Pollen, propolis and royal jelly.
- POLLEN: Bees collect pollen from the flowers with their legs, moisten it with nectar, and shape it into small balls which are then taken to the hive - where they are used as food for worker bees. . These visits from flower to flower contribute to the pollination of several species.
Pollen is obtained by placing small collecting drawers with nets at the entrance of the hive, where it is kept. It is then cleaned and dehydrated so that it does not get fermented or moldy.
Thanks to its high protein and carbohydrate content, it is a good food supplement when energy is low.
- PROPOLIS: they are resinous mixes that bees obtain from the buds of the trees, exuded in sap or other vegetable sources, which are then processed in the hive to seal small cracks.
The color of propolis depends on the source it has been taken from, but the most common color is dark brown.
At room temperature (20 ºC), propolis is sticky and, at lower temperatures, it gets solidified.
Propolis has antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, so it is used for infections.
- ROYAL JELLY: Royal jelly is the food of the larvae at the hive during their first three days of life, except for the bees chosen to be Queens- which are fed with it all their lives. It is a creamy whitish substance with a sour flavor. It must be stored between 1ºC to 5 ºC and protected from direct light. It is high in essential nutrients, which makes it an excellent food supplement that strengthens natural defenses and acts as a stimulant.
