Langstroth Hive

The Langstroth hive is a movable-frame hive system with boxes stacked one on top of another, and the most widely used hive system in the world; the great majority of modern hives in Türkiye are also based on it. Because all its dimensions are set according to the bee space principle, the frames come out freely, and the hive volume is adjusted to the season by adding and removing boxes. Thanks to its standard parts, frames, nucs and equipment are available everywhere.

What is a Langstroth hive and how did it come about?

The system takes its name from the American clergyman and beekeeper Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth. In 1851 Langstroth observed that bees leave gaps of about 6–9 mm open and designed his hive to this measurement; the design was patented in 1852. When the right space was left around the frames, the bees did not glue the frame to the wall, and the frame could be taken out like a page of a book.

This invention is regarded as the beginning of modern beekeeping: colony inspection, splitting, requeening, disease control and extracting honey without destroying the comb only became possible with the movable frame.

What are the parts of a Langstroth hive?

The Langstroth is a vertical system; parts with the same footprint are stacked one on top of another:

• Floor (bottom board): Can be solid or mesh. A mesh floor provides ventilation; with a tray slid underneath, the fallen varroa mites are counted.
• Entrance and entrance reducer: The entrance is narrowed according to the season and colony strength; a mouse guard is fitted in winter.
• Brood box: The box in which the queen lays; used as a single or double box.
• Queen excluder: Optional; keeps the queen in the brood box.
• Honey super: A full-depth box (same as the brood box) or a shallower half-depth box.
• Crown board: The inner cover; the hole in its centre is used for a feeder or a bee escape.
• Roof: The waterproof outer cover; its top is usually clad with sheet metal.

Langstroth frame and box dimensions

In the original American standard the dimensions are in inches; the values below are approximate centimetre equivalents. There may be differences of a few millimetres between manufacturers and countries.

Full-depth or half-depth honey supers?

A full-depth super uses the same frame as the brood box: this means a single frame stock, every frame usable in every box and one size in the extractor. On the other hand, a full, full-depth super can weigh more than 30 kg and strains the back.

A half-depth (shallow or medium) super is noticeably lighter; however, two different frame sizes must be stocked, and brood frames cannot be moved into the super or super frames into the brood box. The choice should be made according to the beekeeper's physical capacity and how many hives they work.

Working a Langstroth hive through the seasons

1. Spring: If the colony has wintered in a single brood box and covers 7–8 frames with bees, a second box or a super is given. Giving too much space during late cold spells chills the brood.
2. Before the flow: If a queen excluder is to be used, it goes between the brood box and the super; the supers must be ready before the flow starts.
3. During the flow: When a super is nearly full, a new one is added. Many beekeepers working with drawn combs use 9 frames instead of 10 in the super, which gives thicker comb that is easier to uncap.
4. Harvest: Capped supers are cleared of bees with a bee escape or a brush and taken off.
5. Autumn and winter: Boxes are reduced according to colony strength, stores are checked and the entrance is narrowed; in winter the cluster moves upwards towards the stores.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Langstroth hive

Advantages

• Availability: Frames, foundation, excluders, feeders and nucs are available almost everywhere.
• Modularity: Space is fine-tuned by adding and removing boxes.
• Interchangeability: Frames can be moved between colonies and beekeepers; it is easy to give a frame with eggs to a queenless colony.
• Suitability for migration: Boxes can be secured, strapped together and moved by lorry.

Disadvantages

• Weight: A full, full-depth super is heavy.
• Lifting boxes: The upper boxes must be taken off to see the brood box.
• Divided brood nest: In a double brood box the brood spreads over two boxes; inspections take longer.

What should you look for when buying a Langstroth hive?

• Dimensional compatibility: Hives sold under the same name can differ in size. Try a frame in your existing hive.
• Timber: Well-seasoned wood with few knots; a warped box upsets the bee space.
• Joints: Finger (box) joints at the corners are more durable than plain nailed butt joints.
• Frame rest: The depth of the rebate on which the frame lugs sit must leave a bee space between the top bars and the crown board.
• Roof: It must be waterproof and must not blow off in the wind.