The orange-brown sticky glue that seals the brood box and makes it harder for the beekeeper to open the hive is made from the sticky resins of a variety of trees. Poplar seems to be the bees' favourite, followed by Birch, Horse Chestnut and a varietyof Conifers; more have yet to be identified.Specialised worker bees collect these resins (propolis) on their back legs as they would collect pollen. Like pollen, there is a range of colour, giving an indication of the plant source; ochre and orange being the most common which shows some choice preference.
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