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.
REGISTRATION ONLY THRU => Click Here to Register for Next Bee101
Intro to Beekeeping | Become a Beekeeper Hands-On Series, includes Suiting Up and Going into the Hives (2-days)
This is a unique and one of a kind opportunity to actually work the bees in actual bee hives as part of the Hands-on portion of the workshop. We will suit you up and take a close look at the bees. You will be learning how to use the tools, what you are looking for and have personal hands-on experience working in the hive. Learn from a UF Advanced Master Beekeeper [not included in the non-beekeeper ticket]
Class Lecture on Saturday from 9am-5pm at GreenView Aquaponics Family Farm & Apiary, at 4160 Old Burnt Store Road, N, Cape Coral, FL 33993
- Becoming a Beekeeper
- Basic Tools
- Hive Equipment
- How to Get Started
- Maintaining Your Hive
- Working Bees
- Hive Structure
- Colony Structure
- General Management
- SW Florida Forage
- Products of the Hive
- Honey Harvesting
- Pests & Diseases
Hands-On Workshop on Sunday from 11am-5/6pm at GreenView Aquaponics Family Farm & Apiary, at 4160 Old Burnt Store Road, N, Cape Coral, FL 33993
- Bee PPE/Lighting Smoker - how to suit up and light the smoker the right way.
- Hive Inspections/Splits - over-the-shoulder with UF Advanced Master Beekeeper
- Into the Hive - hands-on experience with the bees. YOU will be working with the bees. To identify:
- Identification of eggs, open brood, and capped brood
- Brood patterns
- Honey and pollen stores
- Pests
- Finding the queen
- Varroa Sugar Role Test - hands-on testing for the bees nemesis, the varroa mite
- Hive Building - build you own hive and frames onsite using our jigs, nails, staples
- Jigs - how to build a frame jig to make your hive building easier
Students receive a Basic Start Up Kit that includes:
- 10-frame Langstroth Hive w Deep Hive Body, 10 frames with Foundation, Migratory Top Board and Bottom Board,
- Beekeeper Veil,
- Gloves,
- Smoker,
- Hive Tool
Membership included:
- Gulf Coast Beekeepers of Florida - 1 yr
Does not include BEEs or FDACS Beekeeper Registration.
Waiver required for Hands-on Workshop portion here => https://app.cleverwaiver.com/render/templateByRefI...
Discounts for couples that only want one set of equipment. Additional equipment and protective gear available for purchase at 10% discount.
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Already have everything listed in the Basic Start Up Kit? Simply give us a jingle at 239-558-1130 and you may be able to sign up as an ADDITIONAL Family Member instead.
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Click Here to Register for Next Bee101
Other options:
Learn more: How to Select a Bee Smoker
