Beehive for bees: overview, types, features

Beehives for bees differ in design. They have peculiarities in the structure of the body or internal elements. Beehives should be not only comfortable for the bee family, but also for the beekeeper who serves them. It is important the convenience of transportation, if you have to take them out into the nature. Let's look at the types and features of hives.

General features of hives

Dense natural wood is used to create beehives. Particleboard is not suitable for such structures. This material contains toxic formaldehyde, which evaporates. It is dangerous for bees.

Some characteristics of quality hives:

• Convenience and lightness of the products.
• Protection from moisture, temperature fluctuations.
• Quality ventilation.
• The possibility of increasing or decreasing the size of the hive.
• The parameters of the hive should correspond to the size of the bee family.
• The surface of the hives are painted in bright colors, so that the bees recognize their home.

The body of the hive is made in the form of a parallelepiped. Inside there are frames under the honeycomb. The walls of the hive are double, there is insulation inside. In winter it insulates from the cold, and in summer - from the heat. On the front panel there are holes with sliders through which the bees get in and out of the hive. The bottom of the hive has a long slit and a round hole above it for ventilation. The roof protects from the sun and wind. The interior of the hive:

• A tray is placed on the bottom where the debris falls. It is good when the tray can be taken out completely, then it is more convenient to clean it.
• Frames of wood and wax are hung inside the hive. In them bees make honey.
• Install a diaphragm to divide the frames.
• The magazine is called a place to store honey.
• The separating grid does not let the queen into another part of the hive.
• Under the flight entrances are fixed planks, on which the bees enter.

Types of hives

Hives can be vertical and horizontal. Vertical models consist of several hulls mounted one on top of the other. Such a design is more like natural bee hollows in trees. From them you can get honey without opening the nest. Vertical hives are easy to transport. Horizontal hives are easy to use, but heavy and inconvenient to transport.

Some types of hives:

• The Alpine hive was designed by the Frenchman Roger Delon. The size of the hulls is 300 x 300 mm. The peculiarity of the design is low weight. It is necessary to monitor the growth of the bee family, because the hive is small. It is suitable for beginner beekeepers.
• The Dudan hive is built only from spruce wood. It was designed by the Frenchman Charles Dadan. Such a hive has a vertical design, it is roomy, suitable for a large bee family. However, it is not easy to maintain. Therefore, it is used in small private apiaries.
• Ruta - a hive with the same size frames and hulls, small in weight and size. It can form a bee family with two queens. However, the queen is free to move around the hive, making it difficult to care for her. The Root hive is easy to transport.
• The horizontal hive looks like a trunk. Up to 32 frames can be placed in the hive. It is possible to contain a large bee family. Minus - insufficient air exchange in winter.

Which hive is suitable, depends on the conditions in the place of their installation, on the number of bees. If the hives are to be transported, they should be compact and lightweight. For stationary placement of a large bee family, a larger hive is needed