A beehive serves as the central hub for a bee colony’s life, providing shelter, food storage, and a protected environment for raising young. Beehives can be natural, built by bees, or human-designed systems supporting beekeeping. Understanding their distinct elements reveals the adaptability of these insects.
Natural Beehive Materials
Bees construct their natural homes primarily from beeswax and propolis. Beeswax forms the structural foundation, molded into hexagonal cells that comprise the honeycomb. This wax is pliable yet structurally robust. It provides cells for honey storage, pollen, and the rearing of new bees.
Propolis, often called “bee glue,” acts as a sealant and protective agent within the hive. Bees collect this resin from tree buds and plant sap, mixing it with beeswax and their secretions. Propolis is sticky when warm but hardens when cold, filling small cracks and smoothing surfaces. It also possesses antiseptic properties, contributing to hive hygiene and defense. Natural hives are typically found in sheltered spaces like hollow tree trunks or rock crevices.
How Bees Create and Collect Hive Components
Worker bees produce the beeswax that forms the honeycomb. Young worker bees, typically 12 to 20 days old, possess specialized wax-producing glands on their abdomens. These glands convert sugars from consumed honey into liquid wax, which solidifies into small flakes upon exposure to air. Bees use their legs to scrape off these flakes, chewing and mixing them with salivary secretions to make them pliable. This softened wax is shaped into precise hexagonal cells that maximize storage efficiency.
The collection and application of propolis involve distinct behaviors. Foraging worker bees gather sticky resins from plant sources like tree buds and sap flows. They transport these resins to the hive in their pollen baskets. Once at the hive, other bees assist in removing the resin, which is then mixed with beeswax and enzymatic secretions. This mixture is applied throughout the hive to seal gaps, reinforce structures, and sterilize surfaces, acting as a natural defense mechanism for the colony.
Components of a Managed Beehive
Human-managed beehives, such as the Langstroth hive, facilitate beekeeping practices while providing a suitable environment for bees. These hives typically consist of stacked wooden boxes, known as hive bodies or supers. The lowest box, a “brood box,” is where the queen lays eggs and the colony raises young. Additional “honey supers” are placed above for honey storage.
Inside these boxes, rectangular frames are suspended, guiding bees to build their comb. These frames often contain a “foundation,” a thin sheet of beeswax or plastic embossed with a hexagonal pattern. The foundation serves as a starter guide, encouraging bees to construct straight, uniform comb, which simplifies hive inspections and honey extraction. The modular design allows beekeepers to easily add or remove sections, inspect the colony, and harvest honey efficiently.