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.
Want a unique and educational experience unlike anything you’ve done before?
Farmer Tim takes adults and kids into the heart of a beehive! Thousands of buzzing bees fly around you as Farmer Tim explains how these tiny, yet powerful creatures work and live. Bee suits will be provided, all you need to bring is your sense of fun and adventure!
Learn the fascinating inner workings of the hive and why bees vital to the local and global ecosystem. You will also learn about Africanized bees, the different properties and uses for honey (and other beehive products) and how to help bees at home. We have found that these tours make great for a bonding experience. Bring your kids, your spouse, your best friend or your date!
The Beehive Tour is designed for gardeners, nature enthusiasts, adventurers, foodies and other non-beekeepers who want to learn more about bees, but who don’t necessarily want to become beekeepers. Many who have attended the tour have become inspired and gone on to Host a Hive or even become beekeepers themselves, but the tour is not designed to teach you how to beekeep. If you are serious about learning to keep bees, we recommend you start by taking the Intro to Beekeeping class. Some students, in the past, have chosen to start with the tour because they want to experience the hands on element first. That’s okay by us, but if you only take one class, make it the Intro to Beekeeping class. A scheduling link for your tour will be sent to you in your confirmation eMail upon receipt of payment.
Gift certificates are available for the Beehive Tour, if you want to give someone a unique experience! [Download link for Gift Certificate will be sent to you along with a scheduling link for recipient's tour]
Other options:
Learn more: How to Select a Bee Smoker
