There are so many types of Beehives from which to choose. In this video, we are going to talk about the Langstroth Bee Hive, probably the most recognisable Hive in the world.
Let's get into it.
The Langstroth Bee Hive was designed and patented by American apiarist Reverend Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth. Thus the name the “Langstroth Bee Hive.”
The Langstroth Bee Hive is easily recognised as the most common Bee Hive in use around the world today. Chances are if you have seen a Bee Hive, it’s a Langstroth Bee Hive or a variant of it.
The Langstroth Bee Hive is a vertically modular colony management structure that allows the apiarist to conduct inspections and harvest with relative ease and safety in comparison to its predecessors.
The Langstroth Bee Hive is the most identifiable Hive in use today.
There are easily identifiable key features which make up a Langstroth Bee Hive. All Langstroth Hives comprise of:
• Vertically Hung Frames.
• A Bottom Board.
• A Brood Box.
• A Honey Super.
• An optional Inner cover.
• An optional Queen Excluder
The Langstroth Bee Hive is designed to encourage bees to build comb in such a way that it makes it easier to move comb or conduct inspections. By taking advantage of the Bee Space idea, the fact that bees will not seel up or build-in gaps between 6 to 9mm, the hive discourages the construction of burr and cross comb and the gluing of hive part together with propolis. This makes it possible for apiarist to manage their colonies in ways that were nearly impossible before the Langstroth Bee Hive.
Lorezo Langstroth
Langstroth worked hard over time to develop the design of the hive, a culmination of years of research and apiculture experience. He patented the Langstroth Bee Hive in 1852. Although some measurements have changed, modern Langstroth Bee Hives still use the same basic working principals developed by Lorenzo Langstroth.
Many considerations went into Lorenzo’s design, but the biggest principle was the concept of Bee Space. That is the understanding that bees will neither build comb or propolis in gaps greater than 6mm and less than 9mm. Bigger than 9mm, bees will build comb for honey and brood. Smaller than 6mm and they will seal it shut with propolis which acts like super glue.
Up until Lorenzo’s design, most apiarists kept bees in three primary ways.
The first, known as a skep, was a cone-shaped basket made of straw. It looks like a cartoon beehive that hangs from a tree. Another method was to hollow out a log. These were known as gums. Both these methods sought to replicate what bees would do in nature but made it difficult to work the bees without causing damage to the hive or risking the destruction of the colony when harvesting honey.
Another method was called the Box Hive, This looked similar to what we think of as Bee Hives today, but was closer in set-up to the Gum and Skep method. They were simply a timber box with a void in which bees would construct their comb. The same constraints were experienced here as in the Skeps and Gums.
Others were taking advantage of the Leaf Hive, but for the most part, apiarists were using one of these three types of Hive.
The field was ripe for innovation. And that’s where Lorenzo Langstroth comes in.
Lorenzo, who had been a long time avid apiarist, enjoyed researching and experimenting with his Bee Hives, always working to come up with better ways to improve colony management. He is sometimes credited with the discovery of Bee Space, but it seems that two European Apiarist by the names of Jan Dzierzon and August Von Berlepsoh just beat him to the finish on that one. However, it does appear that Lorenzo understood Bee Space not long after the two Europeans and independently.
However, while Lorenzo was not the first to discover Bee Space, he was arguably the first to make the best use of it by implementing it into his design in the best way.
Lorenzo drew heavily from the work and knowledge of Swiss apiarist Francois Huber, who invented the Leaf Hive. This style of the hive was fully moveable frame hive that allowed the apiarist to open and inspect the Hive with less disturbance to the bees. Lorenzo credits Francois work as giving him the confidence to go forward with his idea for a hive. As he says in his book Langstroth on the Honey Bee: “The use of the Huber hive had satisfied me that, with proper precautions, the combs might be removed without enraging the bees, and that these insects were capable of being tamed to a surprising degree. Without knowledge of these facts, I should have regarded a hive permitting the removal of the combs as quite too dangerous for practical use." (P. 1860)
Applying the work of Francios and combining it with his own, Lorenzo found that the bees would not seal or build in gaps between 6 – 9mm. This means Bees would not glue the inner cover or lid of the Hive to the rest of the Hive, which if they did would make it nearly impossible and extremely destructive to inspect the colony. He eventually worked on the design further and patented his Bee Hive in 1852, officially bringing into existence the Langstroth Bee Hive. A fully moveable, vertically modular Bee Hive.
Lorenzo had a cabinetmaker friend and fellow apiarists by the name of Henry Bourquin build the Hive for him. The design was so successful that Lorenzo began to sell them to other apiarists.
Unfortunately, Lorenzo did not get rich from selling these hive as he struggled to enforce his patent and obtain licensing fees. The problem was the very thing that made it such a successful design. It was hugely customisable and easily replicated, meaning anyone could easily build it on their own and adjust it for their needs.
His impact was still huge. His invention revolutionised the commercial apiculture industry. The Langstroth Bee Hive significantly reduced the costs for large apiaries and lead to better colony management. This improved Honey production rates and improved colony health overall.
It’s for these achievements and developments that Reverend Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth is called the father of American Apiculture. The success of his design and his subsequent work impacted apiculture so heavily that his designs were picked up around the world. So perhaps a better way to describe him is as the Father of Modern Apiculture.
Modern Langstroth Bee Hives maintain most of Langstroth's original elements. The Langstroth Bee Hive varients mostly vary in size as the design has been improved and customised of the last 170 or so years.
Generally, all Langstroth Hives will consist of a:
• Brood Box
• Honey Super
• Bottom Board
• Lid/Roof
• Moveable frames
Additionally, many apiarists use some optional additions in the system, such as a:
• Queen Excluder
• Inner Cover
You don’t have to use them, but they do make it easier to manage the hives. For example, the Queen excluder will stop the Queen from moving up into the Hive and laying eggs in Honey stores that might be marked for harvesting.
An inner cover will stop a hive from building burr comb within the roof of the hive. That said, many apiarists manage their hives well without these additions.
The Langstroth Bee Hive can be built using:
• Timber – Normally Pine but most untreated timbers can be used.
• Food Safe, UV resistant Plastic
• Corflute which is used for Nucleus Langstroth Bee Hives.
• Polystyrene
The Hives can be made completely of one material or a combination of materials. For example, many apiarists will use timber boxes but use plastic frames. Or a combination of a timber frame with a plastic foundation, or a plastic frame with a wax foundation.Therein lies the greatness of the system; it’s flexibility. An apiarist can change and adjust it to better suit their needs and style of apiculture, and better manage their colonies.
Thanks to the flexibility of the Langstroth Bee Hive, there are countless styles and varients of the Bee Hive. Mostly, they involve the different elements and preferences of the apiarist.There are some variations in the sizes of the boxes used to make up the Bee Hive. Based on the preferences of the apiarist, they may choose from a variety of different sized boxes.
Additionally, an Apiarist may choose from and 8t frames set up or a 10 frame set up. 5 Frame Nucleus hives are also constructed for new colonies or as Mating Nucleuses.
The Langstroth Hive has many great advantages. For example, they can be easily built with basic woodworking tools or easily assembled from flat packs. They tend to be reasonably priced, with a full basic set up costing between $200-$300 AUD when purchased. They can be even cheaper when you build them yourself or bulk order equipment.
They can easily expand and contract to the needs of the hive. They allow for simple and straight forward colony management. An important part of apiculture is to check and care for the colonies health. This is made simpler because of the Langstroth Bee Hive’s Modular design. They are easily transportable, meaning the Hives can be moved between locations. This is important for pollination services, Urban apiculture and apiculture conducted in environments with difficult conditions.
It is incredibly customisable. You can change it and adjust it to how you see fit. This means that no matter your approach to apiculture, it works.
As with anything, there are some disadvantages to using the Langstroth Bee Hives system. They can be heavy and bulky to move around and handle. Once full with honey boxes can weigh up 50kg. It can be overcome by using smaller boxes. If you need to move a whole hive with all boxes attached, you will need something to help you lift and move the hive.
Depending on time constraints, they do require some setup time. If built from scratch with limited access to tools and machining equipment, expect this to take time. It can be shortened by purchasing Ready to Go boxes that are delivered assembled and painted ready to placed on the hive. It does come at an extra cost.
And a problem that all Bee Hive types face, the hives are susceptible to theft. Their generic nature and mobility make them easy targets for thieves looking to make a quick buck selling them to commercial apiarists. Bee Hives can be protected by ensuring they are kept in a safe location or are equipped with a GPS tracker. Again, these can be costly to install.
Is the Langstroth Bee Hive the right Bee Hive for you?
Given its wide presence, the answer is most likely yes. But there are a few things you should consider before jumping in. Langstroth Bee Hives are very cost-effective, but depending on your time constraints, might be too much work for you. Before purchasing the equipment, think about how much time you can commit to your apiary. This will help you decide which time-saving extras are worth spending money on, and which are not.
Langstroth Bee Hives are the perfect beginner Bee Hive. When you first start apiculture, it’s important to understand how bees operate. Langstroth Hives allow you to easily access all parts of the hive and learn as you go. It is also easy to get additional help from fellow apiarists, as they will have plenty of experience using these Hives.
Langstroth Bee Hives are work though. But that is apiculture in general. When you start your apiary, you need to understand that, like many other domesticated animals, you need to care for them. They need to be checked and treated for pests and handled regularly to prevent from becoming hostile towards people. If your idea is to just have a colony for the sole purpose of having your honey without the work, then this Hive is probably not for you.
Remember, the bees always need to come first.
Lorenzo Langstroth revolutionised the apiculture industry, making it possible for apiarists, both commercial and hobbyist, to increase honey production and better care for the colonies.
After patenting his design, he continued his study and experimentation with bees. He went onto publish a book called The Hive and the Honey Bee which is still in print and available today. He continued researching and documenting which plants were best for bees, planting many trees and flowers at his home called Langstroth Cottage in Oxford, Ohio.
In honour of his work, the building stands today as a US National Historic Landmark.
Until next time, make friends with a bee. Take it for run.