Why insulate your beehive?
Insulating a hive, yes, but why? Insulating a hive protects it from temperature fluctuations. As we have seen with climate change in recent years, winters can be colder or wetter and summers hotter, starting earlier and earlier. Insulation is therefore becoming increasingly common among beekeepers, especially in regions with harsh or unstable climates.
Insulation improves the comfort of the bees. In winter, bees must maintain a stable temperature in the hive of around 25 to 30°C. In summer, overheating must be avoided so that the wax does not collapse in the hive. Insulation will prevent the bees from spending too much time ventilating.
Insulation also reduces honey consumption. If there is less heat loss, the bees consume fewer reserves to keep warm. A cluster of bees that suffers from the cold in winter is certain to die, particularly as it will not have had the strength to warm its habitat.
A colony that has not suffered too much from thermal disturbances is a stronger colony, which will recover much better in spring and will have developed fewer diseases. The queen will be able to resume laying eggs as early as January or February, which will support the older bees that are reaching the end of their lives (the queen usually – but not always – stops laying eggs during winter).
How to insulate your hive? There is a lot of information available in beekeeping literature and from beekeepers, such as insulating partitions, boards at the bottom of the hive and on top as frame covers… what should you do?
Even though wood is already a good insulator, reinforcing it with materials such as aluminium will better maintain the colony, both in summer and winter! In France, hives are mainly insulated from the inside, as we do not have extremely low temperatures like in some countries where hives are insulated from the outside. This is not necessary.
To begin with, you can insulate the frame cover by attaching a layer of bubble wrap (as used in garages) underneath. Placed directly on top of the frames, it will reflect the heat produced. You can also insulate above the frame cover (i.e. in the roof) with a type of insulating cushion such as polystyrene or natural wool. You can find a foam called Apifoam in beekeeping shops.
Even if the colony remains strong in autumn, it is advisable to use the insulating partition at this time of year. It is preferable to sacrifice a honey frame (or an empty frame if there is one in the hive) to put a partition on the side.
Recently, the ‘sock’ or ‘hive bottom shoe’ has made its debut on the beekeeping market. In line with the principle of low-energy hives (see the book by Jean Riondet and Marc Guillemain), insulating the hive from the bottom would be beneficial. It resembles an insulated aluminium frame cover that is placed between the floor and the body of the hive but has a slit at the front to allow the bees to pass through. If you are in a cold region or the colony is small, this installation can be a solution to thermal disturbances.
Should you also insulate in summer? Yes, insulation is also beneficial in summer, but in a different way. You can protect the hive from the sun with light-coloured paint and even paint the metal roof white. You can promote ventilation with a mesh hive bottom and an empty super on the top level (because heat rises). And, of course, move the hives into the shade at the edge of a hedge.
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See you next month on your API blog with your faithful partner, Les Ruchers De Mathieu!
LES RUCHERS DE MATHIEU
Miellerie & Magasin d’Apiculture
Photos ©lesruchersdemathieu
