The Basic Components of the Honey Bee Hive
The honey bee hive consists of several boxes that are named after their colony use versus simply the size.
The most common naming convention among beginning beekeepers is simply a brood box and a super. The brood box is the box where the queen lays her eggs (the “brood”) and the super box is where the remaining worker bees place the honey stores. So, you may also hear them called honey supers.
The more experience beekeepers tend to use the size and function in their names, so you may a “deep box” or “deep brood box”, which refers to the box as before where the queen lays her eggs.
Super boxes for the Langstroth hive come in 3 sizes:
- shallow ask known as
- medium also known as an Illinois Super
- or the no longer commonly use Wisconsin Super
Then we have top and bottom boards that also come in different variations:
Top boards with inner and outer covers, used mostly up north and Migratory Top boards more commonly used in Florida since we don’t have a huge temperature differential that causes condensation inside the hive.
Bottom boards can be solid or screened. The screened bottom board is known to be used in the control of the varroa destructor mite.
Then we have frames and sometimes we have foundation.
- Fine Bubbles: The air stone produces lots of dense fine bubbles; A great way to oxygenate your hydroponic growing systems, ponds, aquariums and enliven the aquatic life
- Size: 4" x 2" x 2"; Recommended air pump powe: 4 - 8 W; Standard ID airline tubing: 0.16" / 4 mm
- Durable Material: Made of mineral material and sintered at a high temperature; The material is sturdy and durable which is safe to your fish
- Easy to Use: Soak the stone completely in water for 2 hour before use; Clean it regularly with a brush as they get clogged after weeks or months of usage
- Widely Applicable: Fit for hydroponic systems, ponds, aquariums or fish tanks and other systems
Other options:
Learn more: How to Select a Bee Smoker
