What are nectar, pollen, and propolis?
Nectar is the sugary liquid flowers produce to attract pollinators. Bees collect it by slurping it up and bringing it back to the hive. Some insects simply feed on the nectar, but bees partially digest, regurgitate, and re-digest nectar in their honey stomachs (where it mixes with their own body chemistry). In the hive, the nectar/bee mixture is ultimately put into wax honeycomb, and evaporated (by thousands of beating wings) until it becomes… honey, the bee’s energy-rich food. Pollen is essentially plant sperm. Protein rich, it is a coveted food source for the bees, who gather it from flowers, mix it with a little honey and pack it around special “pollen baskets” on their rear legs for travel. In the hive, the pollen is stored in the honeycomb. Propolis is also known as bee glue. It’s used as a sealant to protect the hive from moisture, light, and drafts.
