What Are Supers in Beekeeping
Supers in beekeeping are the boxes placed on a beehive for bees to store honey.
They are separate from the deep box used at the bottom of the hive, known as the brood chamber.
Supers are added to the hive during times of nectar collection and can come in different sizes, including deep, medium, and shallow.
The size of the boxes, or supers, determines the amount of honey that can be stored.
Beekeepers typically use deep boxes for brood chambers and medium or shallow boxes for honey supers.
The use of supers helps differentiate between brood raising and honey storage.
Did You Know?
1. Did you know that supers in beekeeping are the additional boxes placed on top of the hive to provide extra storage space for honey? These supers are like high-rise apartments for bees!
2. Supers are typically made with thicker walls compared to the brood boxes below to prevent the weight of the honey from causing the comb to collapse. It’s all about providing a secure and spacious home for those hardworking bees!
3. Beekeepers often use different colored supers as a means of communication within the hive. For instance, a blue super could indicate that the frames contain pollen, while a white super may indicate that the frames are currently empty and ready for more honey.
4. When a beekeeper is planning to extract honey from the supers, they will often use special bee escape devices. These ingenious contraptions allow the bees to exit the supers but prevent them from re-entering, ensuring a bee-free extraction process.
5. It’s interesting to note that supers not only serve as storage spaces for honey but also provide a place for bees to raise their brood during periods of peak nectar flow. This multitasking feature allows bees to efficiently utilize the space within the hive for both honey production and new bee generation. Nature truly is remarkable!
Hive Box Sizes: Choosing The Right Size For Beekeeping
When it comes to beekeeping, one of the crucial decisions that beekeepers have to make is the size of the boxes to use for hive bodies and supers. Hive bodies, also known as brood chambers, have a specific function in the beekeeping process. These boxes are primarily used for the queen to lay her eggs and raise the brood.
There are three depths of boxes commonly used in beekeeping:
- Deep (9-⅝ in)
- Medium (6-⅝ in)
- Shallow (5-¾ in)
Each depth serves a specific purpose in the hive, and beekeepers can mix and match them based on their needs and preferences.
Understanding The Function Of Hive Bodies And Supers In Beekeeping
In a conventional beekeeping setup, deep boxes are typically used for brood chambers, while medium or shallow boxes are used as honey supers. This configuration ensures a clear differentiation between areas dedicated to brood raising and honey storage.
The most traditional hive design used by beekeepers is the deep Langstroth hive. Patented in 1852, this hive has become the standard for many beekeepers around the world. However, deep hives have one significant disadvantage – their weight when filled with honey. These hives can become incredibly heavy and cumbersome for beekeepers to handle.
Supers, on the other hand, are additional boxes placed on top of the brood chambers for honey storage. During a nectar flow, when flowers are producing ample nectar, beekeepers add supers to provide their bees with additional space to store honey. These supers can be any size and are later removed for honey harvest.
The Pros And Cons Of Different Box Depths In Beekeeping
The choice of box depth in beekeeping has both pros and cons. Deep boxes are often used for brood chambers because they have a larger capacity to hold more frames and allow for optimal brood development. This provides bees with ample space to raise their offspring and store enough food for the colony.
Medium boxes, which are a size between deep and shallow, have gained popularity in recent years. They offer a great compromise, being easier to manage and weighing less than deep boxes. Medium hives weigh around 60 lbs, while deep hives can reach up to 80 lbs when filled with honey. This reduction in weight makes medium boxes more manageable for beekeepers during inspections and honey extraction.
Commercial honey developers primarily choose to use medium boxes for honey supers due to their convenience and weight advantage. Shallow boxes, weighing around 30-40 lbs when filled with honey, are also commonly used as honey supers. However, they can also serve as brood chambers if desired.
Utilizing Medium And Shallow Boxes For Honey Supers
Beekeepers can strategically use medium and shallow boxes for honey supers. By employing mediums as the primary size for honey storage, they can optimize management and reduce the weight burden on their hives. These boxes allow for easier handling and can be less physically taxing for beekeepers.
Shallow boxes, although less commonly used compared to deep and medium boxes, can still play an essential role in beekeeping. They are ideal for beekeepers who prefer lighter options or have physical limitations, making the process of honey extraction much more manageable.
Ultimately, the decision on which size box to use for honey supers depends on the beekeeper’s preferences, physical capabilities, and the unique needs of their bee colonies. The most important aspect is to ensure that the bees have enough space to store honey effectively and that the boxes can be easily managed during inspections and honey harvesting.
Exploring The Different Sizes And Types Of Supers In Beekeeping
The term “super” in beekeeping refers to the boxes placed on a beehive for bees to store honey. Historically, a super was either a medium box measuring 6 5/8 inches tall or a shallow box measuring 5 3/4 inches tall. However, the term has expanded to include any size box used for honey storage.
Supers can come in various sizes, including deep, medium, and shallow, depending on the beekeeper’s preference and the requirements of the hive. Additionally, supers can have frames ranging from 5 to 10, providing even more flexibility in the beekeeper’s choice.
The choice of super size depends on factors such as the strength of the bee colony, the expected honey yield, and the beekeeper’s management preferences. Some beekeepers may choose to use deep supers for maximum honey storage, while others may opt for mediums or shallows to reduce weight and facilitate easier handling.
In horizontal hives, where the frames are positioned horizontally rather than vertically, bees have been observed to store pollen at the front and honey at the back. This natural tendency of bees to store resources based on the box’s location within the hive should also be considered when selecting the appropriate super size.
Beekeepers have the freedom to choose the size of hive boxes and supers based on their needs, preferences, and bee colony requirements. The ability to mix and match box depths allows beekeepers to optimize brood raising and honey storage. Whether using deep, medium, or shallow boxes, the key is to provide a suitable environment for the bees to thrive and ensure efficient honey production.
- Possible factors to consider when choosing the size of bee boxes and supers:
- Strength of the bee colony
- Expected honey yield
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Beekeeper’s management preferences
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Bees in horizontal hives tend to store:
- Pollen at the front
- Honey at the back
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a super in beekeeping?
In beekeeping, a super is a designated box placed on top of a beehive, specifically intended for bees to store honey. This superstructure can come in two traditional sizes: a medium box standing at 6 5/8 inches tall or a shallow box measuring 5 3/4 inches tall. It is important to note that the super does not include the deep 9 5/8-inch box commonly used as the lower part of the hive. The purpose of the super is to provide additional space for the bees to store surplus honey, allowing the beekeeper to eventually harvest it while ensuring there is enough space for the colony’s growth and development.
How many supers do you need for a hive?
Ideally, one Flow Super is sufficient for a hive. By having a dedicated super, beekeepers can harvest honey as and when it is ready without disturbing the bees’ continuous honey-making process. This allows the bees to have adequate space to carry on their work and produce more honey without interruptions.
What is the difference between a hive body and a super?
In the realm of beekeeping, the hive body and the super play distinct roles in the beehive’s organization. The hive body, also known as the brood box, serves as the primary area where bees construct their combs to nurture the growth of new bees. This section is dedicated to the important task of raising brood, thus explaining its alternative name. On the other hand, the super, a shallow box, is aptly named as it functions as an additional storage space for surplus honey. Bees utilize the super to fill it with honey reserves, which beekeepers can then harvest, leaving the brood box undisturbed.
Understanding the difference between a hive body and a super is crucial for beekeepers to maintain a healthy beehive. The hive body focuses on bee population and reproduction, ensuring the ongoing vitality of the colony. Meanwhile, the super serves as a delightful bonus, providing excess honey that can be utilized for various purposes. Appreciating the distinct roles of these two components enables beekeepers to manage their hives effectively and make the most of the hard work of their buzzing companions.
What is the purpose of a honey super?
The purpose of a honey super is two-fold. Firstly, it serves as a means to collect honey from the hive. As bees thrive in building and storing honey, the honey super provides an additional space for them to store surplus honey that can be harvested by beekeepers. Secondly, honey supers help alleviate overcrowding within the hive. As the colony grows during the spring build-up, the honey super provides extra room for bees to expand and prevents the hive from becoming too crowded. By separating honey storage from brood rearing areas, the honey super ensures a healthy and efficient hive environment.