How the bee hive works

The device of a hive for bees should be known to every person who decides to start an apiary. Over time, the houses will have to be repaired, improved and even manufactured 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 the bee hive works

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

What the hive is made of

In the wild, bees build up their own wax beds for honey. Between the combs, free streets are left for movement, called the "bee gap". Hollows of large trees serve as houses.

In an apiary, a beehive acts as a home for bees. The design resembles a rectangular box set in one or more tiers. Inside the hive, frames with honeycombs are installed, which contain honey. According to the standard, the honeycomb frames of all hive models maintain a “bee gap” of 12 mm. In contrast to the hollow, the entrance to the hive for bees is organized through the notch.

Evidence scheme for bees

Regardless of the model, the basic structure 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. The exchange of air at the base is necessary so that the hive bottoms do 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 reliable fastening to the box. However, the best is considered to be a removable bottom for the hive, which makes it easier for the beekeeper to take care of the interior space.
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 by the shoulders of the upper bar for the folds on the front and rear walls. In multi-section hives, the hives are stacked on top of each other.
4. A dividing grid for bees with small cells is located between the sections. Only worker bees are able to crawl through the holes.
5. The shop with frames is similar in design to the body. The extension is placed during honey collection. Worker bees enter the store from the hull through a dividing grid.
   Important! The store extension can be used in the winter to accommodate the layering.
6. The ceiling covers the honeycomb frames in the body. The shield is in the compartment where the ceiling feeder is placed, additional insulation is placed for the winter. The ceiling is equipped with ventilation holes. Instead of a ceiling, sometimes canvas or artificial materials are laid.
7. The roof is the final element of the hive. The wooden shield is covered with sheet metal on top, which protects the wood from precipitation.

In addition to the main parts, the hive device contains additional elements:

• The frame consists of top, bottom and side strips. The upper element on both sides forms protrusions - shoulders (3). The tops of the side slats are made with a flare (1) to help maintain the gaps between the frames in the hive. To fasten the honeycomb, a wire (2) is stretched on opposite strips.
• 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 covering it with propolis to keep the hive warm. The novice beekeeper should know that the entrance is not only an entrance, but also a ventilation hole. It is optimal to equip the hive with two windows. At the floor level, a lower notch is cut out in the form of a gap. The upper window is located at a height of 2/3 of the hive. The entrance has the shape of a round hole up to 3 cm in diameter.
• The taphole is protected by a taphole made of a solid strip, one or two gratings. The element helps to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the hive by changing the size of the entrance. Additionally, the barrage protects the hole in the hive for bees from rodents and other uninvited guests.
• The landing board is located in front of the entrance. The plank is usually 50 mm wide and 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 roof cover is identical in shape to the body, only it has a low height. The element is inserted between the roof and the main body to increase the space. Here, for the winter, they put insulation, put feeders. In the heat of summer, the roof cover is installed between the bottom and the body for better ventilation.

An additional element is a stand for the hive, 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.

In 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, and replenish oxygen. Ventilation holes on the walls of the house are tap holes. To increase air exchange, the hives are equipped with a mesh bottom. The third location for the ventilation holes is the ceiling.

What is the best underframe 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 the underframe space in the hive from 15 to 20 cm. For a house with a removable bottom, the gap is increased to 25 cm. The underframe space should be sufficient to accommodate a strong colony of bees.

Design features depending on the type of hives

The design of different models of bee hives differs in size and some of the nuances of the arrangement:

• Dadanov's hives are made for frames measuring 435x300 mm. Stores are loaded with half frames, which have a reduced size in height exactly half the standard frame.
• Ruth hives accommodate frames measuring 226x235 mm. During honey collection, the tiers are built up due to the same enclosures.
• The Alpine hive is made up of small square boxes, each containing 8 frames. During the bribe, the sections are increased until the height of the house reaches 1.5 m.
• Cassette modules are analogous to hives. The bees live in cassettes located inside the enclosure. The modules are installed in stationary and mobile pavilions.
• The beds are ordinary hives, only the expansion of the nest here occurs horizontally - in breadth.

The most convenient are vertical hives. The sun beds are bulky, heavy, and 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 bee colonies. The more bees in the house, the more honeycomb frames are required.

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

General rules

Regardless of the location option, beekeepers adhere to the basic rule regarding the equipment of the frames. A wire is stretched between the opposite slats, on which the foundation is held. There are two stretching schemes: along and across. The best option is to stretch the strings between the top and bottom planks. 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 adopted. 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 located from north to south. Bee hives turn northward.

The location of the honeycomb in the hives

In the wild and in logs, bees themselves grow combs in the form of long tongues. Inside the hives, honeycombs are arranged in frames. As the colony grows, bees fill the cells with honey faster. The beekeeper needs to add new frames in a timely manner, where the empty foundation is fixed to the stretched wire. New honeycomb frames are installed with store extensions on the hive body. After filling the honeycomb with honey, a new store is set up.

How to place hives correctly

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

If the apiary is nomadic, the hives are, if possible, 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 the bees to find their home.

There are three schemes for placing houses:

1. The "rows" scheme is suitable if there is a lot of vacant 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, they expand the space between the rows. Bees will find their way to their home faster.
2. The scheme "in groups" is the most popular for nomadic and stationary apiaries of different 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 checkerboard pattern is suitable for arranging an apiary in a small area. The hives standing next to each other are pushed forward one by one, painted in different colors for better recognition by the bees.

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

Conclusion

The device of a bee hive is simple. Most experienced beekeepers make their own houses, reducing their costs for buying factory models.

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