Propola Hive Box

The propola hive box restores the “propolis envelope” to managed hives and provides basic sanitation and defense against foreign microbes.  The propola hive helps bees help themselves!

Since their origins, honey bees have been enveloping and coating their nests with a natural, resinous substance called propolis. Research has shown that this propolis envelope is a critical part of the colony’s natural defense against disease.  The propola hive box features roughened interior walls to encourage propolis collection and restore the propolis envelope inside the hive. This creates a healthy, stable propolis environment for your bees.

Propola Hive Box Features:

• Inside of the hive box wood consists of grooved box walls to encourage propolis deposits
• Unassembled boxes fit together easily and can be glued and/or nailed
• 10-frame hive box dimensions (fully assembled): 19-7/8” (length) x 16-1/4” (width) x 9-5/8” (height)
• Lumber: Eastern white pine
• Made 100% in the USA

Review the science behind the propola hive box:

1. Simone-Finstrom M, Spivak M. 2010. Propolis and bee health: the natural history and significance of resin use by honey bees. Apidologie 41, 295-311.

2. Hodges C, Deplane K, Brass B. 2018. Textured hive interiors increase honey bee (Hymenoptera: apidae) propolis-hoarding behavior. Journal of Economic Entomology, Vol 112, Issue 2.

3. Borba R, Spivak M. 2017. Propolis envelope in Apis mellifera colonies supports honey bees against the pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae. Sci Rep 7, 11429.

4. Shanahan M, Simone-Finstrom M, Tokarz P, Rinkevich F, Read Q.D., Spivak M. Thinking inside the box: Restoring the propolis envelope facilitates honey bee social immunity. PLoS ONE, 2023. (Coming Soon)

5. Simone-Finstrom M, Spivak M. 2012. Increased resin collection after parasite challenge: A case of self-medication in honey bees? PLoS ONE 7(3): e34601.

6. Pusceddu M, Annoscia D, Floris I, Frizzerà D, Zanni V, Angiomi A, Satta A, Nazzi F. 2021. Honeybees use propolis as a natural pesticide against their major ectoparasite. Proc. R. Soc. B 288: 20212101.

7. Borba R, Klyczek KK, Mogen KL, Spivak M. 2015. Seasonal benefits of a natural propolis envelope to honey bee immunity and colony health. J Exp Biol. 218(Pt 22):3689-99.