Beverley
Beekeepers' Association
The
local Beekeeping Association for East Yorkshire
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Bee
Space
Modern
beekeeping is based on the use of removable frames hanging
within movable boxes - brood boxes or super / honey boxes.
Frames are kept the right distance apart by the use of
‘spacers’:
-
Spacing can be ‘built-in’ as a part of the frame as in
Hoffman frames.
- Castellated spacers can be nailed into the brood box or
super and the frames fit into them.
- Metal or plastic ‘ends’ can fit on to the ends of the
frames
In
the National hives used in our apiary we use:
Single
brood boxes with eleven deep Hofmann design frames (DN4),
although some beekeepers use twelve.
Ten shallow frames (SN1) with castellation spacing in the
supers (honey box). Some beekeepers use eleven or nine
frames at different times to increase the yield but you
need some experience to do this well.
Bees require a certain amount of space in which to travel
around the hive. This is the space between the boxes of
frames, between the frames themselves, between the frames
and the outside wall of the box, between the top of the
frames and the crown board. If the space is not large
enough they will fill it with propolis, and if it is too
large they will fill it with brace comb.
The required bee space was investigated in 1851 by
Langstroth of the U.S.A. and shown to be
3/8th
of an inch. Modern investigations have shown that this is
more accurately quoted as 0.312” to cater for expansion.
Whatever the figure is, bees are clearly aware of it and
will propolise a space of less than 0.250” and build bridge
comb in a space greater than 0.375”.
As the presence of both propolis and brace comb makes it
much more difficult for the beekeeper to carry out regular
inspections it is better if you can avoid the problem by
using the correct bee space. Use well maintained equipment
built to the correct dimensions and always use some type of
`spacer’ to keep everything in place.
Propolis
(bee glue) is made from plant secretions like the sticky
stuff on `sticky buds’ and from plant sap. Bees use it to
fix things firmly in place and as their disinfectant. For
the beekeeper this makes life difficult and sticky - and
bits stop fitting together properly. If you get propolis on
anything wash it off with hot soapy water, alcohol, or
aromatic solvent. It will break off fabric after freezing.
Many beekeepers collect propolis for their own use or sell
it to others who make propolis tinctures and ointments.
Brace
comb
is wax comb built anywhere outside the frames provided.
Most beekeepers collect it.