What Type of Beehive Should I Choose? Wooden, Plastic or Expanded Polystyrene?

National bee hive

Regarding beekeeping, avid apiarists can be very vocal about what they believe is right and wrong.

Beekeepers are a passionate group with firm convictions about the proper approaches to beekeeping. When you ask which beehive is better: plastic boxes, wooden boxes, or expanded polystyrene containers? – most veteran keepers will resolutely answer "wooden."

With modern beekeepers aware of their role in preserving the environment, gone are the days when beehives were produced from wood sourced at a cost to ancient forests. It's reassuring to know that we can all rest easy, secure in the knowledge that there is no deforestation associated with our honeybee hives! Historically, wooden boxes have been the go-to choice for beekeepers, as they are much less expensive than plastic and can be assembled with minimal effort once cut to size. Hoop pine or radiata pine is commonly used in creating these traditional hives - a practice that goes back thousands of years from when bees first started inhabiting natural tree hollows. In this way, we stay true to our roots by keeping bees using old-fashioned methods!

By using wooden boxes and frames, humans have effectively streamlined the production of hives. Unfortunately, wood does not last forever - it eventually starts to rot. In a stroke of genius, beekeepers in the early 1900s discovered that dipping or cooking the wooden boxes in wax for 10 minutes at 160°C could preserve them tenfold! Taking things one step further; they also began painting on their exterior sides once dipped for optimum durability.

As we are always on a rush to save time, in the past four decades some companies have created hive boxes made out of plastic and polystyrene. The main benefits? Minimal construction needed and their materials last much longer than wood - resulting in more free time for beekeepers. Sadly, these hives pose an environmental threat due to their manufacturing costs, as well as the pollutants generated from their production process. Although they've been slow to take off because of this issue, it is still worth considering given how valuable our precious time can be!

Although plastic may be praised by beekeepers for its purported thermoregulation advantages, bees have been mastering this process long before we placed them in boxes. Indeed, when they have excess honey, the bees are even capable of producing their own metabolic heat to keep warm.

Besides the fact that plastic hives have an incredibly smooth interior surface, they can also lead to sweating and mildew. Although this has not been scientifically proven yet, I believe it could easily increase contagions like Nosema or chalkbrood due to too much moisture in the hive. Moreover, there is a considerable risk of toxic fumes being emitted from poly-type hives!

Plastic frames are a prevalent item present in many beekeeping operations today; however, the bees won't draw out of them until the frames have been brushed with melted wax. This is why flow hives may not be as successful: since plastic is something the bees don't naturally prefer, forcing them to utilize pre-made foundation rather than producing it from raw and pure beeswax can lead to poor results. Bees are the experts and they won't be fooled by plastic foundations. Every single time, bees will begin working on real wax when given a choice. Furthermore, it's simple to assemble plastic frames and you don't need to worry about them being damaged by wax moths.

With many polystyrene hive systems rising in popularity, it is no surprise that beehive brands are continually innovating to combat hostile winter climates or hot summers. As such, these formidable structures have developed significantly across the country.

Beekeepers are often quite divided on the issue of hives. Polystyrene and wooden ones have their own individual pros and cons: for example, bees may chew through poly more aggressively than wood but also can produce up to 35% more honey due to its better insulation levels. Ultimately, when it comes to keeping these incredible creatures we must prioritise what is best for them rather than us - after all, they're in our care!