*Assembly required.
*NAHBE Pre-Order Only* 9-5/8" DEEP Propola® Hive Body | Unassembled
Mill-run: $29.95 $21.00
Select: $32.95 $23.00
Buy 50+ Hives: CALL FOR PRICING
This item is only available for pre-order at the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, KY. Expo pre-orders will not be shipped to a different location.
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The Propola® hive restores the natural habitat your bees know and need.
With roughened interior surfaces, Propola facilitates the formation of a propolis envelope inside your beehive. This propolis-rich environment is a critical part of honey bees' natural defense against disease.
Less disease means stronger bees and more of them. The Propola hive has been shown to increase colony populations by up to 2 frames of bees per hive, leading to stronger colonies.
Help bees help themselves by restoring their natural habitat with the Propola hive from Premier Bee Products.
Choose from budget-friendly Mill-Run grade or premium Select grade. Only available in 10-frame size.
Box ships unassembled.
Milled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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Select grade: The premium choice. Mostly clear lumber. Small, tight knots allowed. No milling defects.
Mill-Run grade: The economical choice. A mix of all lumber grades. Occasional loose knots and milling defects. Structurally and functionally sound.
10-frame hive body dimensions (fully assembled): 19-7/8” (length) x 16-1/4” (width) x 9-5/8” (height)
Product weight: 8 lbs
Lumber: Eastern white pine
Made 100% in the USA
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Qualifies for free shipping on orders over $150.*
In-stock orders typically take 24-48 hours to ship.
*Free shipping offer extends to orders anywhere inside the contiguous 48 states. Read our full shipping terms here.
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What makes the Propola hive different from other beehives? The Propola hives features roughened and grooved interior surfaces to facilitate the formation of a propolis envelope. This propolis envelope is a natural function of a bee colony to fight disease.
What is propolis? Propolis is a resin-like material that comes primarily from trees. Sometimes referred to as “bee glue”, propolis is used by bees to seal unwanted gaps and fight infection in the hive due to its antimicrobial properties.
Can you harvest the propolis from the Propola hive? No! The propolis envelope that will form in the Propola box is meant to stay in the hive to support colony health.
How long does it take for bees to envelope the hive in propolis? This depends on the supply of resin available in your region and the propolis-hoarding behavior of your bees. The typical envelope will fully form within 1-2 years, though many will be quicker.
What is the difference between Select and Mill-Run grades? Select grade is the premium choice, consisting of mostly clear lumber and no cracks/defects. Mill-Run grade is the economical choice, consisting of knottier lumber and occasional cracks/defects. With both grades, you can count on full functionality of your box. Learn more about our lumber grades here.
Does the Propola hive come in an 8-frame size? No. At this time, the Propola hive is only available as a 10-frame box.
Is assembly required? Yes. We recommend using Hivebond 4000 (or similar waterproof wood glue) to assemble your box. Nailing or stapling is optional.
Where are Propola hive bodies made? All hive bodies and supers are milled in our factory in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Questions? Call (605) 951-0267
The benefits of the Propola hive are very well documented and scientifically supported. It’s clear that Propola hive bodies will become my standard equipment as I rotate out older boxes. I’m an instant fan.
- Fred Dunn | Educator, content creator
Restoring the propolis envelope is just like washing your hands: It provides basic sanitation and defense against foreign microbes. Help bees help themselves!
- Marla Spivak, Ph.D. | University of Minnesota Bee Lab
The natural habitat for the modern hive.
Since their origins, honey bees have been enveloping 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.
Restore the propolis envelope.
The modern, smooth-walled beehive discourages bees from coating their hives in propolis.
The Propola hive features roughened interior walls to encourage propolis collection and restore the propolis envelope inside the hive. This creates a healthy, stable environment for your bees.
Propolis surrounds a natural bee nest inside a tree cavity.
Resist disease.
Research has shown that the Propola hive leads to many individual- and colony-level health benefits.
The antimicrobial properties of propolis significantly reduce the presence of American foulbrood, European foulbrood, and chalkbrood diseases, among others. There is even some evidence that propolis lowers the fertility of Varroa destructor.
Perhaps more importantly, the propolis envelope greatly reduces bees’ immune response, meaning your bees will feel healthier and be more productive.
Raise more bees.
Less disease results in stronger bees and more of them. The Propola hive has shown to increase colony populations by up to 2 frames of bees per hive.
More bees means stronger colonies, more opportunity, and potentially higher survival rates when compared to weak colonies.
Read the scientific literature:
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)
Product Details:
10-frame hive body dimensions (fully assembled): 19-7/8” (length) x 16-1/4” (width) x 9-5/8” (height)
Product weight: 8 lbs
Lumber: Eastern white pine
Made 100% in the USA
