Hi All
 
A number of interesint replies here. Seems however I did not clearly
state my thought about propolis.
 
Bees collect propolis components seperately to nectar. Specific
castes collect propolis as well.
 
I have seen bees collecting resin of leves of fig trees, fig fruits,
paint of wet hives, wax from supers in starage and so on.
 
A hippie beekeeper I have spoken to who goes to the transkei(lots of
cannabis there) frequently has also mentioned that he has seen bees
working the canabis heads. Cannabis heads (buds) are I gather female
and produce no pollen or nectar. Plants are either male or female.
Many 'farmers' kill the male plants. Hence bees are definitely not
pollinating when they are there but are collecting resin.
 
I will try to get a photograph and put it on my web page when that
goes up.
 
Hence the honey in a hive would not be contaminated, but the propolis
would as it would have the resin in it.
 
Keep well
 
Garth
---
Garth Cambray       Camdini Apiaries
15 Park Road        Apis melifera capensis
Grahamstown         800mm annual precipitation
6139
Eastern Cape
South Africa               Phone 27-0461-311663
 
On holiday for a few months     Rhodes University
Which means: working with bees 15 hours a day!
Interests: Fliis and bees
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post in no way
reflect those of Rhodes University.