Beekeeping and Understanding of the Bee Hive

Originally honey bees living in the wild would establish their colonies in cavities in hollow trees and rocks. They would swarm every year as a means of reproduction. But starting a new colony is a very risky business with three quarters of the swarm dying in the year after swarming.

When man originally gathered honey from these 'natural hives' but soon reasoned that if they provided a hive it would be easier to locate and could be guarded against other predators. To begin with they would house the bees in upturned baskets (Skeps), pottery urns (Hives) and hollowed gum trees (Bee Gums). All these methods had the same disadvantage the bees had to be driven off or killed to harvest the honey.

In the 1850's Lorenso Langstroth developed, which is still the today, the worlds most popular hive. Named after him the Langstroth hive enabled the honey to be harvested without harming the bees. Known as a movable frame beehive the support structure allows combs to be supported within it. The combs made from a sheet of wax or plastic with an hexagonal design imprinted upon. These not only allows the bees to start building the honey it actually assists them giving more time to collect nectar and turn it into honey.

Langstroth object was to improve the lot of the bees and stop the annual slaughter. But in his design he had developed a very efficient honey factory as the design allows for the easy extraction of the combs from the hive and then new base combs can be put in their place.

In some parts of the world the top-bar hive is used. Different from the Langstroth in that bars are placed across the top structure and the combs are suspended from them. The bars cannot be reused after honey extraction and result in lower production quantities but the honey is of the highest quality.

The placement of the hive is as important as the design if the beekeeper to keep the bees safe from predators and not to alienate his neighbours. The hives should preferably be in an area surrounded by a six foot high fence. This will ensure that the bees fly at heights above the heads of most people. There must be ample water supply in close proximity, bees visiting children's bathing areas is because they are searching for water.

Painting the hive in natural hues will camouflage the hive and also protect from the elements. Never paint the inside of the hive - bees hate the smell of paint and the honey could also be tainted.

Bees going about their business of collecting honey will pollinate all the plants in the area increasing the show of flowers and the increasing the fruit and crop harvest. Apple orchard owners keep bees purely the pollinate their trees and increase the apple harvest.

It is important that any prospective beekeeper investigates the local regulations and bylaws regarding the keeping of bees there are a few misguided legislatures that have made it illegal to keep bees and others that insist on licenses. But thankfully they are the exception.

Ben Field is a beekeeping expert. For more information on the beekeeping hive, visit http://www.thebeekeepingcenter.com.