Credits:

Beekeeping in Holland the way it used to bee!

https://youtu.be/Zo3I_MumbW4

Basic Beekeeping Equipment

Mid-State Beekeepers Association

Spring 2016

What do Honey Bees Need?

In order to survive bees need: 1) a dry cavity, 2)

food/water, 3) assistance dealing with parasites,

and 4) minimized exposure to pesticides.

Randy Oliver

http://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-rules-for-

successful-beekeeping/

Overview • Pictorial History of Beekeeping Equipment

• Safety Equipment

• The Essential Tools

• Some Accessories

• The Langstroth Hive – Bottom to Top

• A Look at Woodenware

• Building Demonstration

Pictorial History of

Beekeeping Equipment

Sit back and take a trip back through time as

we explore beekeeping equipment through

the ages.

Start Slide Show

The Essentials You will need some new equipment… The

time to act is now, before your bees arrive!

• Safety Equipment

Jacket, Veil, Gloves, Smoker

• Tools for Inspecting & Caring for Hive

Hive Tool, Brush, Spray Bottle

• Bee Hive, Supers, and Feeder

• Costs: Beekeeping can be pricey.

Safety Equipment

• Beekeeping Jacket / Suit

• Veil

• Gloves

• Smoker and Fuel (Pine Straw)

• First Aid Kit (if applicable)

Beekeeping Jackets $15 - $150

Veil $13 - $25

Gloves $12 - $25

Smoker $32 - $39

(Just add pine straw and a

match! You will learn how to

light a smoker on field day.)

First Aid Items • Plastic Card to remove stinger

• Ice Pack

• Tylenol and StingEze

• Benadryl or other antihistamine

• Epi Pen (if indicated by history)

• Cell Phone

• Water

Beekeeping Essential Tools

• Hive Tool

• Beekeeping Brush

• Smoker (already covered)

• Spray Bottle

• The Hive Components

– Stand, Bottom Board, Brood boxes, Supers,

Frames, Foundation, Inner Cover, Outer

Cover, Feeder.

Hive Tools $5 - $20

Beekeeping Brush $5 - $10

Spray Bottle $1 1:1 Sugar Water Mixture

Handy Accessories

Uncapping Scratcher $6 Frame Grip $9 Frame Perch $15

On a budget? These are optional!

The Langstroth Hive Rev. Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth (25 December 1810 – October 6, 1895)

Considered the "Father of American Beekeeping."

Utilized the concept of “bee space” in the design of a removable frame hive.

Boxes could be added to allow the bees more space.

Frames could be manipulated between the same hive or different hives.

Bee space was maintained throughout expansion and manipulation.

Hive Bodies - Sizes .

A Closer Look

Brood Box

Entrance Reducer

Frames

(What you call it

sometimes depends

on where it’s located.)

Bee Space

"Bee space" is a term that is given to a gap

that bees create in a natural nest to enable

them to pass freely around their nest. This

gap is rarely filled with propolis or comb. This

can be seen if a wild colony is taken out of a

building or tree.

Starting at the Bottom

• The Hive Stand

Moving on Up

• The Bottom Board

Solid Bottom Board

Entrance Reducer

Screened Bottom Board

IPM Insert

Boxes come next! • Brood boxes allow the colony an area to raise

more bees.

• With ten frame boxes, allow an area the volume

of two deeps OR a deep and a medium in SC.

• But first you start with giving the bees only one

box!

• You can use those cans of leftover exterior paint

in your basement. Paint the outside only of the

hive bodies. Different colors for different hives is

great, as it reduces “drifting”. Use a good, water

proof wood glue.

Frames and Foundation Go in the Boxes

Add Inner Cover

• Solid or screened

Top It Off

Telescoping Cover Migratory Cover

(No inner cover required)

Feeders Boardman (Entrance) Feeder $4

Feeders • Miller (Hive Top) Feeder $23

Feeders • Bucket Feeder $3 - $5

Feeders • Frame Feeder $6

Feeders • Do it Yourself $0

• Equipment needed for keeping 2 beehives

• Deep Hive Body #2

• Medium supers #6

• Screened bottom board #2

• Inner cover #2

• Telescoping top #2

• Frames (Wedge top, grooved bottom)

• Deep 9 1/8 # 20

• Medium 6 ¼ #60

• Foundation (wired with hooks)

• Deep 8 ½ #20

• Medium 5 5/8 #60

• Jacket with hood (hat/veil combo): 1 for each person working with the bees

• Gloves: 1 pair for each person working with the bees

• Hive tool: #1

• Smoker: #1

• Brush: #1

• Frame holder #1 (optional)

• Frame grabber: #1 (optional)

• Wire ½ lb.

• Nails

• Cinder blocks: 2/hive

• Queen excluder: #2 (optional)

• Small Hive Beetle traps #2-4 (optional)

• Entrance reducer: #2 (may come with hive)

• First Aid Kit

Where to get this cool stuff? • Bee Well Honey Farm (SC) www.beewellhoneyfarm.com 864-898-5122

• Johnson’s Farm & Supply (SC) www.johnsonsfarmandgarden.com 803-266-7333

• Blythewood Bee Company (SC) http://www.blythewoodbeecompany.com 803-754-7577

• Carolina Bee Company (SC) http://www.carolinabeecompany.com 864-610-2337

• Dixie Bee Supply (Lancaster) www.shopdixiebee.com 803-577-7871

• The Walter T. Kelley Co (KY) www.kelleybees.com 800-233-2899

• Mann Lake Ltd. www.mannlakeltd.com 800-880-7694

http://www.mannlakeltd.com/bee-blast.html

• Dadant and Sons, Inc (VA, FL,KY) www.dadant.com 800-220-8325

• Brushy Mountain Bee Farm (NC) www.brushymountainbeefarm.com 800-233-7929

• Miller Bee Supply Inc. www.millerbeesupply.com 888-848-5184

• Mid-State Links to Bee Supply Companies:

http://www.scmidstatebeekeepers.org/apps/links/#beekeeping_supplies

Credits and Links

• Dave Carter and Bob Mitchell – Essential Beekeeping Equipment – Power Point presentation

• Historical Beekeeping Articles Facebook Page

• Alessia Franchino – photo archives

• List and links to Beekeeping Supply Companies – Visit these companies and request a free

catalog.

• The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane

• The Archaeology of Beekeeping by Eva Crane

• The Hive and the Honey Bee by Lorenzo Langstroth

• My Many Mentors at Mid-State Beekeepers Association

• Historical Beekeepers

Berlepsch Langstroth Dzierzon F. Huber A.I. Root

Let’s Look and Build

Let’s look at the real thing – bee hives!

Then, we’ll build some woodenware!