Hive Box
Lexikon
A box component of a modern box hive in which the frames hang.
A box component of a modern box hive in which the frames hang. A colony is expanded with further boxes as needed, in the case of a modern box hive always by a whole box at a time.
A distinction is made by function: the brood chamber remains reserved for the queen, the honey super sits above it, often separated by a queen excluder. By height there are full and half boxes, with half boxes being half the height and easier to lift.
The timing of expansion is decisive: added too late, crowding and swarming tendency result; given too early, the bees often accept the new space only hesitantly. Colony strength, densely occupied combs and the course of the flow serve as guidelines.