BBKA Forum

British Beekeepers Association Official Forum 

  • To save honey bees we need to design them new hives

  • More advanced beekeeping discussion forum.
More advanced beekeeping discussion forum.
 #4793  by Chrisbarlow
 10 Sep 2019, 17:21
Am interesting article written by Derek Mitchell about hive designs we currently use and hive designs he believes are better for honey bees.


https://theconversation.com/amp/to-save-honey-bees-we-need-to-design-them-new-hives-121792
 #4794  by Chrisbarlow
 10 Sep 2019, 17:30
A linked study from the article.

Nectar, humidity, honey bees (Apis mellifera) and varroa in summer: a theoretical thermofluid analysis of the fate of water vapour from honey ripening and its implications on the control of Varroa destructor

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2019.0048
 #4798  by AdamD
 11 Sep 2019, 09:30
I think that many people thing that the standard wooden design could be be better in some ways - whether it be Langstroth or National. I have always thought that to have a thin plywood top over the colony is not ideal. That's why a lot of beekeepers put insulation on the top.
It's good that Derek is championing new thinking with regard to hive design - and if it's done by science rather than a fad, then there's hope that benefits will flow.