Hives

A hive falls under the category of the birdhouse . It is a special type of enclosed structure where honeybee’s subgenus Apis species live and raise their young.

In common, the term beehives is used to describe the nest of any bee colony. These hives exist naturally (made by bees themselves) and artificially made. The artificial beehives are designed, made, and installed by men to welcome bees for nesting and making honey. The nest’s internal structure consists of a densely packed group of hexagonal prismatic cells made of bee wax. It is commonly known as honeycomb. The bees use this cell to store food (it includes both pollen and honey). It is also the housing place for the broods (eggs, larvae, and the pupae).

Types and uses of bee boxes

The beehives or bee boxes are used for several reasons. Primarily they are used for honey production. They also serve as a housing supply for bees for apitherapy treatment, pollination of crops nearby, and mitigating the impact of colony collapse disorder. The artificial beehives are incredibly portable and used for transporting bees from one place to another to pollinate the corps. Till now, we have got many successful honeybee nest designs that are used across the globe. Here are some of the most appreciated types available in the market.

Ten-frame Langstroth hive

This is the most commonly used and appreciated hive box when people think of nesting honeybees in their backyards.  This design consists of square boxes stacked atop one another. a special vented rooftop then protects these boxes. At the bottom level, the boxes are structured to allow easy brooding space for the bees. At the same time, the upper boxes are structured to hold wooden frames for the bees to fill with honey and comb. By holding these boxes, you can easily find information and supplies support. They are also ideal for maximum honey production, but they are heavier in weight and can go up to 60 pounds.

The eight-frame Langstroth hive

The eight-frame hives work just like the previously mentioned type. Both share the same structure; the only difference is that the boxes are a bit smaller, and each holds eight frames instead of ten. With that said they weigh much lesser than the ten-frame hive. They are appreciated for their weight, organization, and easy to work with. However, a major setback is that here the parts are not interchangeable with the ten-frame equipment. And the system is relatively uncommon, which means that you will face some difficulties to find replacements, supplies or any other aid.

The top bar hives

They are becoming more popular with backyard buffs as well as sustainable farmers. This is the oldest the most commonly used honeybee nesting style in the world. Here a set of horizontal bars is set across the trough-shaped hive. A removable or hinged cover protects it. In this setting, the bees build their comb downward from the bars, which is a very natural activity. These bars are normally wooden strips or wedges that slide into slots. They are the cheapest item for beekeeping, and the design is suitable for beginners and people with disabilities.

The Warre hives

They are often known as top bar hives that are set up vertically. This style incorporated stacks of small, square-shaped hive boxes with top bars rather than frames to hold the comb. It also comes with a unique style of hive cover which is a quilt fitted with sawdust or wood shaving as the vented angled roof. In this design, the bees make the honeycomb from the top bars move downwards into each box. These designs require minimum inspection by the beekeepers, and the foundationless system is much natural for the bees to feel comfortable while nesting.