How a bee hive works

Every person who decides to start an apiary should know the device of a beehive for bees. Over time, the houses will have to be repaired, improved and even made on their own. The layout of the hives is simple, you just need to know where which element is located and the standard sizes.

How a bee hive works

There are several types of hives. The most popular are the houses of Dadan and Ruta. Hives of different models differ in size, design features of individual elements. However, the general scheme is the same.

What is the hive made of

In the wild, bees themselves build wax layers for honey. Between the cells, free streets are left for movement, called the “bee gap”. Hollows of large trees serve as houses.

In the apiary, the hive is the home of the bees. The design resembles a rectangular box, installed in one or more tiers. Inside the hive there are frames with honeycombs where honey is contained. Between the honeycomb frames of all models of hives, according to the standard, they withstand the size of the “bee gap” of 12 mm. Unlike a hollow, the entrance to the hive for bees is organized through a notch.

Scheme of evidence for bees

Regardless of the model, the basic device of any hive is the same:

1. The base of the structure is a shield that improves the stability of the hive. The side shelves are equipped with ventilation slots. An exchange of air in the base is necessary so that the bottom for the hives does not rot from dampness.
2. The bottom acts as an intermediate element between the base and the body of the hive. Sometimes these elements are made in one piece with a secure attachment to the box. However, the best is considered to be a removable bottom for the hive, which makes it easier for the beekeeper to care for the interior.
3. The body is the main element of the hive. The box is installed on the bottom. Inside there are frames with honeycombs, and they are hung with the shoulders of the upper bar for the folds on the front and back walls. In multi-section hives, the bodies are stacked on top of each other.
4. Between the sections there is a dividing grid for bees with small cells. Only worker bees can get through the holes.
5. Shop with frames in design resembles a case. The extension is placed during the honey collection. The worker bees enter the store from the housing through the dividing grid.
   Important! The store extension can be used in winter to accommodate the layering.
6. The ceiling closes honeycomb frames in the body. The shield is in the compartment where they put the ceiling feeder, they have additional insulation for the winter. The ceiling is equipped with ventilation holes. Instead of a ceiling, canvases made of fabric or artificial materials are sometimes laid.
7. The roof is the final element of the hive. The wooden board is covered from above with the sheet metal protecting wood from rainfall.

In addition to the main parts, there are additional elements in the hive device:

• The frame consists of top, bottom and side bars. The upper element on both sides forms ledges – hangers (3). The tops of the side rails are made with an extension (1) to help accommodate the gaps between the frames in the hive. A wire (2) is stretched on the opposite strips to fasten the combs.
• The letok forms a kind of window in the hive through which the bees leave and return to their home. The inner surface of the hole is made smooth. In winter, bees can reduce the size of the window by sealing it with propolis to keep warm inside the hive. A novice beekeeper should know that a notch is not only an entrance, but also a vent. It is optimal to equip the hive with two windows. At the floor level, a lower notch is cut out, which has the shape of a gap. The upper window is located at a height of 2/3 of the hive. The letok has the shape of a round hole with a diameter of up to 3 cm.
• The notch is protected by a notch barrier made of a solid plank, one or two gratings. The element helps to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the hive by changing the size of the entrance. Additionally, the barrier protects the hole in the beehive from rodents and other uninvited guests.
• The arrival board is located in front of the entrance. The plank usually has a width of 50 mm, is used for planting bees.
• The side diaphragm is a wooden shield. The element is tightly inserted into the body, serves to separate or insulate the nest.
• The liner is identical in shape to the body, only it has a small height. The element is inserted between the roof and the main body to increase the space. Here, insulation is laid for the winter, feeders are placed. In the heat of summer, the liner is installed between the bottom and the body for better ventilation.

An additional element is a hive stand, usually made in the form of a folding metal structure. The device helps to raise the houses above ground level, to prevent the bottom from touching the ground.

On the video, additional information about the device of the hive:

Hive ventilation

Ventilation is designed to remove excess moisture from the hive, adjust the temperature, replenish oxygen. The ventilation holes on the walls of the house are notches. To increase air exchange, the hives are equipped with a mesh bottom. The third location of the ventilation holes is the ceiling.

What is the best frame space in the hive

A gap is left between the frames and the bottom of the hive – a subframe space. In factory designs, the gap is 2 cm, which is very small. It is optimal to leave a frame space in the hive from 15 to 20 cm. For a house with a removable bottom, the gap is increased to 25 cm. The frame space should be enough to accommodate a strong family of bees.

Design features depending on the type of hives

The design of different models of hives for bees differs in size and some nuances of arrangement:

• Dadanov’s hives are made to fit frames 435×300 mm in size. Stores are loaded with semi-frames that have a reduced size in height exactly half of the standard frame.
• Ruta hives accommodate frames 226×235 mm in size. During the honey collection, the tiers are built up due to the same buildings.
• The Alpine hive consists of small square boxes containing 8 frames each. During the bribe, the sections are increased until the height of the house reaches 1,5 m.
• Cassette modules are analogous to beehives. Bees live in cassettes located inside the housing. Modules are installed in stationary and mobile pavilions.
• Sunbeds are ordinary hives, only the expansion of the nest here occurs horizontally – in breadth.

Vertical hives are considered the most convenient. The sunbeds are bulky, heavy, there is poor air exchange inside.

How are the frames in the hives

The number of frames, their location depends on the type and size of the hive, the number of bees. The more bees in the house, the more combo frames are required.

The most successful is considered a square hive, where frames can be placed up and down. The first option is called “cold skid”. The frames are located along the notch. The second option is called “warm skid”. The frames are located across the notch.

General rules

Regardless of the arrangement, beekeepers adhere to the basic rule regarding the equipment of the frames. A wire is stretched between opposite planks, on which the wax is held. There are two stretch patterns: along and across. The best option is to stretch the strings between the upper and lower bars. By increasing the number of windings, the deformation of the frame is reduced.

Features of location in hives of various types

The number of frames in the hive varies, usually from 8 to 24 pieces. They are located inside the section in one row. For sunbeds, a horizontal arrangement is accepted. In multi-tiered vertical hives, the frames are placed vertically one above the other.

In relation to the cardinal points, the frames in Dadans and Ruts are arranged from north to south. The hives turn to the north with tapholes.

Location of honeycombs in hives

In the wild and in decks, the bees themselves grow combs in the form of long tongues. Inside the hives, the cells are arranged in frames. With the growth of the colony, the bees fill the cells with honey faster. The beekeeper needs to add new frames in a timely manner, where the empty foundation is attached to the stretched wire. New comb frames are placed with magazine extensions on the hive body. After filling the honeycombs with honey, a new store is placed.

How to set up hives

The apiary is never placed on the ground. Beekeepers use stands for hives made of bricks, bars or metal structures. It is undesirable to choose an open area for an apiary. The bees will be hot under the sun, swarming will accelerate. It is optimal to choose a shaded place under large trees.

If the apiary is nomadic, the hives, if possible, are put in the old place. It is easier for bees to navigate in a familiar place. Be sure to leave space between the hives. It will be easier for bees to find their homes.

There are three schemes for arranging houses:

1. The “rows” scheme is suitable if there is a lot of empty territory. A distance of 4 m is maintained between the hives. Houses with weak families are always placed in front. When the main bribe comes, expand the space between the rows. Bees will quickly find their way to their homes.
2. The scheme “in groups” is the most in demand for nomadic and stationary apiaries of various sizes. Groups are formed from adjacent hives of 2-6 pieces. A distance of 50 cm is left between the houses. The row spacing is from 4 to 6 m.
3. The “chess order” scheme is suitable for arranging an apiary in a small area. The hives standing next to each other are pushed forward through one, painted in different colors for better recognition by bees.

There are other, less popular schemes. Under different circumstances, beekeepers expose hives in a triangle, a semicircle.

Conclusion

The arrangement of a beehive for bees is simple. Most experienced beekeepers make houses themselves, reducing their cost of buying factory models.