What is a Honey Super?
A honey super is a key component of a beehive designed specifically for collecting and storing honey produced by honey bees. It is a shallow or medium-sized box placed above the brood chambers in a standard Langstroth hive. Beekeepers use honey supers to provide space where bees can build comb and store surplus honey, which can later be harvested without disturbing the brood (the area where the queen lays eggs).
Types of Honey Supers
-
Shallow Honey Super (5-3/4 inches tall)
- Lightweight and easier to handle when full of honey.
- Commonly used for honey storage and harvesting.
-
Medium Honey Super (6-5/8 inches tall)
- Holds more honey than a shallow super but is still manageable in weight.
- A popular choice for both brood chambers and honey storage.
-
Deep Honey Super (9-5/8 inches tall)
- Typically used for brood rather than honey storage due to its heavy weight when filled with honey.
Components of a Honey Super
- Frames: Inside the super, frames hold the foundation where bees build wax comb to store honey.
- Foundation: This can be made of beeswax or plastic and provides a guide for bees to build uniform comb.
- Queen Excluder (optional): Placed between the brood chamber and the honey super, it prevents the queen from laying eggs in the honey storage area.
Purpose of a Honey Super
The primary purpose of a honey super is to collect surplus honey produced by bees. Bees store honey in comb cells within the frames, and once the comb is capped (covered with wax), the honey is ready for extraction. Beekeepers add supers as the colony expands to provide additional space for honey storage, preventing overcrowding and reducing the risk of swarming.
When to Use a Honey Super
- Spring and Summer: When nectar flows are abundant, and bees are actively foraging.
- Multiple Supers: As bees fill one super, additional supers are added to maximize honey collection.
Harvesting Honey from a Super
When the frames in the super are filled with capped honey, beekeepers remove the super and extract the honey using an extractor. The frames can then be reused in the next season.
Conclusion
Honey supers are an essential part of managing a productive hive. By providing a dedicated space for honey storage, they allow beekeepers to harvest honey efficiently while ensuring the brood remains undisturbed. Selecting the right size and type of super based on your needs makes hive management smoother and more rewarding.