Commonly Used Beekeeping Terms and Their Meaning
Langstroth Beehive: A popular type of beehive consisting of vertically stacked rectangular boxes, each containing frames for bees to build their comb. It's known for its modularity and ease of management.
Brood Box: The part of the hive where the queen lays eggs and the young bees (brood) are raised. It typically contains frames with comb for brooding and some food storage.
Super: A box placed above the brood box in a beehive, used for additional brood space or for honey storage. Supers can be of different sizes, with "medium" and "deep" being common types.
Queen Excluder: A barrier placed between the brood boxes and honey supers in a beehive. It has openings large enough for worker bees to pass through but too small for the queen, preventing her from laying eggs in the honey storage area.
Nucleus Hive (Nuc): A smaller, starter hive containing a queen, workers, and brood. It's used to establish a new colony or strengthen an existing one.
Sugar Water (Syrup): A feeding supplement for bees, made from a mixture of sugar and water. It's used to provide additional energy and stimulate comb building, especially in new or weak colonies.
Brood Nest: The central area within the hive where the brood is raised. It's maintained at a precise temperature for optimal development of eggs and larvae.
Mite Treatment: Procedures or products used to control or eliminate mite infestations within a beehive, particularly Varroa mites, which are harmful to bee health.
Honey Super: A box specifically used for storing surplus honey, placed above the brood area or queen excluder in a hive.
Nectar Flow: The period when flowers are abundantly producing nectar, which bees collect to make honey. This period is critical for honey production and colony growth.
Frames: A frame is a rectangular structure that is placed within a beehive box, providing support for bees to build their comb. It is designed to be removable, allowing beekeepers to inspect the hive, manage bee populations, and harvest honey without destroying the comb.
Comb: Comb refers to the hexagonal patterned structure that bees construct using beeswax. The comb is the place within the hive where bees store honey, pollen, and where the queen lays her eggs. It is a critical component of the hive's internal architecture, serving as the nursery for young bees and the pantry for food reserves.
Brood Box: The part of the hive where the queen lays eggs and the young bees (brood) are raised. It typically contains frames with comb for brooding and some food storage.
Super: A box placed above the brood box in a beehive, used for additional brood space or for honey storage. Supers can be of different sizes, with "medium" and "deep" being common types.
Queen Excluder: A barrier placed between the brood boxes and honey supers in a beehive. It has openings large enough for worker bees to pass through but too small for the queen, preventing her from laying eggs in the honey storage area.
Nucleus Hive (Nuc): A smaller, starter hive containing a queen, workers, and brood. It's used to establish a new colony or strengthen an existing one.
Sugar Water (Syrup): A feeding supplement for bees, made from a mixture of sugar and water. It's used to provide additional energy and stimulate comb building, especially in new or weak colonies.
Brood Nest: The central area within the hive where the brood is raised. It's maintained at a precise temperature for optimal development of eggs and larvae.
Mite Treatment: Procedures or products used to control or eliminate mite infestations within a beehive, particularly Varroa mites, which are harmful to bee health.
Honey Super: A box specifically used for storing surplus honey, placed above the brood area or queen excluder in a hive.
Nectar Flow: The period when flowers are abundantly producing nectar, which bees collect to make honey. This period is critical for honey production and colony growth.
Frames: A frame is a rectangular structure that is placed within a beehive box, providing support for bees to build their comb. It is designed to be removable, allowing beekeepers to inspect the hive, manage bee populations, and harvest honey without destroying the comb.
Comb: Comb refers to the hexagonal patterned structure that bees construct using beeswax. The comb is the place within the hive where bees store honey, pollen, and where the queen lays her eggs. It is a critical component of the hive's internal architecture, serving as the nursery for young bees and the pantry for food reserves.
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