About Beehives

The beehive, as commonly referred to by beekeepers and consumers, is the enclosed home of honeybees. Beehives can be either man-made (as they are in the commercial honey industry) or naturally occurring in places such as tree cavities. Man-made beehives are usually constructed in a manner that allows the beekeeper to remove the hive's honeycombs for honey extraction.

  1. History

    • Beekeeping is an ancient practice, and beehives have enjoyed a long history since they were first used as early as 900 BC. The first beehives were often made of dried grass and natural clay and were hardened in the sun. Modern beehives are more sophisticated, compared with the primitive structures once used to house bees. In the 1800s, beekeepers used box-shape beehives that looked similar to the hives used today. The technology behind beehives has changed little since then.

    Types

    • In the beekeeping industry, there are two types of beehives. The first type is often called a "Langstroth" hive. The second type is called a top-bar beehive. A Langstroth beehive is the traditional type often seen in backyards. It involves rectangular beehive boxes that allow the beekeeper to slide out trays in which the bees have built their honeycombs. In a top-bar beehive, there is a single bar on the top of the hive upon which the bees build a hanging honeycomb. The latter type of beehive is less popular among beekeepers because it does not produce as much honey as the Langstroth beehive.

    Significance

    • Beehives form the foundation of the national honeybee industry. Without them, it would not be possible to raise domestic honeybees. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says there are up to 212,000 hobby beekeepers and 1,600 commercial beekeepers in the U.S. who help produce 180 million pounds of honey every year.

    Features

    • All beehives have five features that enable a beekeeper to raise honeybees and harvest the honey from their honeycombs. These features include a beehive bottom board, a cover, a honeybee brood box and a honeycomb frame. The brood box is the part of the beehive in which the queen honeybee lays her eggs and is tended to by the worker bees. The brood box is where the honeycomb is built and the honey is stored. The frames allow the beekeeper to slide out the honeycomb to harvest the honey, while the covers and foundation keep the beehive contained.

    Considerations

    • Raising honeybees in a backyard beehive can be a source of income and honey. Some gardeners place a beehive near their garden for vegetable and flower pollination. Regardless of your reasons for raising bees, selecting the right beehive is an important step. A tray-based beehive is generally the best choice for beginners because it gives the easiest access to the honeycomb and produces the most honey. Prospective beekeepers should also consider the right time to set up the beehive, generally in the early spring. This allows the honeybees enough time to get accustomed to the beehive and begin making honey to feed themselves during the winter.