Beehives Without Borders

A recent bee-related trending post on Instagram showed an impressive display of bees adapting to no frames in the hive and building a breathtaking honeycomb structure. So, why do beekeepers use frames in their hives? What happens if they do not? Surprisingly, many beekeepers are legally required to provide frames for their bees. Regardless, this mishap by a beekeeper showed that beehives existing organically in nature would do fine building honeycombs and producing honey without any assistance. One thing that beehives in the wild do not have is the benefit of a seasoned beekeeper's watchful and protective eyes.

Bees Are Engineers and Construction Workers

There is some debate about the role of beekeepers in the lives of their bees. One of the reasons that providing frames is legally required by beekeepers is so that they can remove and inspect frames regularly to catch diseases that may be infecting the hive, address threats to the hive, and take measures to mitigate infestations to prevent further spread of the disease to nearby colonies.

However, when beekeepers fall short in providing for bees, capable bees continue to be bees and do what they think is best for their hive. Whether beekeepers fail to provide supplemental food, water, or space, bees are not the most patient insects and always have a backup plan. Bees, although they may seem to cooperate and comply with beekeeper dreams, are wild and will continue behaviors that are consistent with ensuring their survival.

If a beekeeper forgets to use frames, or they are not appropriately aligned, bees will free-form and build honeycombs in spiraled shapes that are impressive to see. These spiral-like, or maze looking, free-form structures maximize airflow, which helps control temperatures in the hive. The engineering abilities of bees remind us that bees will adjust and adapt to maintain the colony's health.

Foundationless Combs

Some beekeepers feel that foundationless combs are a better option for bees, allowing them to have a more independent honeycomb building process. Although frames do provide structures for bees to build honeycombs on, frames have provided plenty of space and do not appear to limit bees' ability to brood in frames. Arguably, the individual cells are more restricted using frames. Still, bees know what they need better than any beekeeper, and they adapt, sometimes creating larger or smaller cells in foundationless hives. The fact is that bees protect their eggs with wax, which protects baby bees from being exposed to any contaminant that may be on a frame.

The idea of an organic honeycomb may peak interest, and for seasoned beekeepers, it may be something you attempt. However, beekeepers choosing this approach must be ready to be on call continually. Many beekeepers enjoy the freedom of periodically checking the frames, but without the frames, inspecting for disease is much more complicated and time consuming.

Beekeepers have a natural sense of wonder and awe in the natural process of these incredible pollinators, which is why many choose to have one or two of these to watch in amazement and witness the natural order of bees making honeycombs without borders. It is undeniable that bees have a unique opportunity to show off without frames!

Frames for Beginner Beekeepers

It is strongly recommended that new beekeepers begin with foundation and frames in their hives. As beekeeping is a lifetime of learning experience, it is best to keep things simple and use tried and true tools to get started. As beekeeper tasks and responsibilities become more routine over time, there may be opportunities to remove frames from a hive or two and watch in amazement!

The great thing about the beekeeping community is that beekeepers are genuinely invested in their bees, pollination, the environment, and helping others in the ventures. If you live in Southern California, contact D-Tek for the most experienced beekeeper and experienced live humane bee removal in the area.