The beehive functions as a living immune system, according to a study published in ISME…

The beehive functions as a living immune system, according to a study published in ISME Communications. Researchers from the University of Sydney analyzed samples from 24 bee colonies across five apiaries in New South Wales, examining honey, pollen, wax, propolis, and the microbial communities in the bees' guts.

The findings revealed that antimicrobial properties of materials—such as hydrogen peroxide in honey and flavonoids in propolis—combined with their strategic placement in the hive create a multi-layered defense, especially strong near the center where eggs and larvae are stored. Honey, wax, pollen, and propolis act together as a unified protective complex.