| Hive frame | |
| Image Size: | 250px |
| Classification: | Beekeeping |
| Used With: | Wax foundation Langstroth hive |
| Inventor: | Petro Prokopovych Johann Dzierzon |
| Manufacturer: | various |
A hive frame or honey frame is a structural element in a beehive that holds the honeycomb or brood comb within the hive enclosure or box. The hive frame is a key part of the modern movable-comb hive. It can be removed in order to inspect the bees for disease or to extract the excess honey.
In 1814 Petro Prokopovych invented the world's first beehive which used hive frames.[1] Early prototypes had a large distance between frames, and the frame lay on supporting strips of wood. As a result, the frames were cross-attached by burr comb and propolized to the supporting strips and were difficult to remove. In Prokopovych's design, the frames were placed only in the honey chamber. In the brood chamber, the bees built the combs in free style.
Johann Dzierzon described the correct distance between combs in the brood chamber as 1½ inches from the center of one bar to the center of the next. In 1848, Dzierzon introduced grooves into the hive's side walls replacing the strips of wood to hang top bars. The grooves were 8 mm (⅓") wide and met the distance requirements for a bee space.
In May 1852, August von Berlepsch in Germany designed a movable frame.[2] On October 5, 1852, in the United States, L. L. Langstroth patented a new hive with movable frames under US patent # US9300A.[3] [4] Today, the Langstroth hive is the most common design in many parts of the world. In the UK the national hive is more commonly used. A smaller hive, the Smith hive is often used in Scotland, especially when bees are taken to the Heather moors. Historically the larger Dadant hive was used in most of Europe. All of these hives use movable frames of various numbers and sizes.
A Langstroth hive – stackable boxes opened from the top – is usually made to hold eight or ten frames per box, spaced about NaNinches center to center. The frames are made of wood or plastic.
The dimensions of the frames also vary. Various sizes have been given their own names. Confusingly, the "Langstroth frame size" is one; minor variations on it are widely used in modern US beekeeping. The Dadant frame is larger, others such as the BS National Beehive are smaller.
In the Langstroth frame design, the top bar length is some 19inches. Boxes may be of three different depths, and these depths may also vary somewhat between manufacturers.[5]
The frame is made of:
The bars may have furniture – hooks or eyes – to allow for the attachment of wires to brace the frame together.
Frames can be outfitted with wax foundation, starter strips or left empty for bees to build the entire comb.