No. 62
The Mann Lake Propolis Trap is a straightforward, budget-friendly tool for beekeepers wanting to harvest propolis without disrupting hive operations.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing and does not affect the score above.
The Mann Lake Propolis Trap is a straightforward, budget-friendly tool for beekeepers wanting to harvest propolis without disrupting hive operations. It works best on strong, established colonies and requires a little patience plus the freezer trick to get clean yields, but for the price it's a solid addition to any bee product lineup.
Derived from this product's specification, features and owner reports.
The Mann Lake propolis trap is a purpose-built accessory designed to help beekeepers harvest one of the hive's most valuable byproducts with minimal disruption to colony activity. Constructed from a flexible, food-grade plastic mesh, the trap is placed directly on top of the brood chamber, beneath the inner cover, where bees naturally deposit propolis to seal gaps and reinforce structural integrity within the hive. The grid-like pattern of small openings mimics the kind of crevices bees instinctively want to seal, encouraging them to fill the trap with propolis as part of their normal hive-maintenance behavior. Because it fits neatly within standard Langstroth hive dimensions, the trap integrates easily into existing setups without requiring any modification to hive bodies or frames.
What makes this propolis trap particularly practical is the simplicity of its harvesting process. Once the bees have sufficiently coated the mesh with propolis, beekeepers can remove the trap and place it in a freezer for a short period. The cold temperature causes the resin to become brittle, allowing it to be easily flexed or scraped off the plastic without damaging the trap itself. This reusable design means a single trap can be used season after season, making it a cost-effective tool for beekeepers who want to consistently collect propolis rather than relying on scraping small amounts from hive tools and frames. The durable plastic construction resists warping and cracking even after repeated freezing and flexing cycles.
For beekeepers interested in propolis as a marketable product—whether for tinctures, salves, or raw sale to herbalists and health-conscious consumers—the Mann Lake propolis trap offers a straightforward way to increase yield without added stress to the colony. Since propolis collection through this method doesn't require opening the hive extensively or disturbing the brood nest, it aligns well with low-intervention beekeeping practices. The trap is lightweight, easy to store, and simple to clean between uses, making it a practical addition for both hobbyist beekeepers looking to explore propolis harvesting and commercial operations aiming to diversify their hive product offerings beyond honey and wax.