Amostras de ceras do ninho e da própolis de Apis mellifera foram analisadas. Observou-se a predominância de ésteres, seguidos de hidrocarbonetos. Os constituintes foram identificados por cromatografia a gás/espectrometria de massas. Amplas variações foram observadas nos padrões de hidrocarbonetos e dos ácidos e álcoois de ésteres. As cadeias carbônicas dos hidrocarbonetos abrangem a faixa C 23 -C 35 , com o predomínio de C 27 e C 31 . O principal ácido carboxílico foi C 16:0 , seguido de C 18:0 e C 18:1 . Os principais álcoois constituintes de ésteres foram homólogos saturados normais, na faixa C 24 -C 32 , C 30 sendo o mais abundante, seguido de C 24 . Não foram observadas diferenças que permitam distinção, o que sugere uma origem comum para ambas as fontes de cera.Samples of propolis and comb waxes of Apis mellifera were analyzed. Monoesters predominated, followed by hydrocarbons. The constituents were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Wide variations in the patterns of hydrocarbons, acids and alcohols of the esters were found. Hydrocarbon chains cover the range C 23 -C 35 , C 27 and C 31 alkanes predominating. The main carboxylic acid was C 16:0 , followed by C 18:0 and C 18:1 . The alcohols were predominantly saturated n-homologues, ranging from C 24 to C 32 , C 30 being the most abundant, followed by C 24 . No differences were found to allow a distinction, suggesting a common origin for both wax sources.

Three samples of Brazilian geopropolis, collected by three indigenous bee species, were investigated by GC/MS. More than 50 compounds were identified, mainly terpenoids and phenolics. The chemical composition of propolis gathered by different bee species was different.

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