A honey super is an auxiliary box added to the top of a beehive structure to increase its internal volume. Its primary purpose is to provide specific storage space for surplus honey that the colony produces during periods of active nectar collection.
The term "super" is short for "superstructure," indicating any box added above the primary brood nest to capture the excess honey harvest while keeping it separate from the colony's living quarters.
The Mechanics of the Honey Super
Understanding the Structure
The honey super acts as a vertical extension of the hive. It is physically placed on top of the main hive bodies, often referred to as brood boxes.
Internal Components
Inside the super, beekeepers place frames. These frames provide the infrastructure where bees build wax comb to deposit and cure nectar into honey.
Relation to the Brood Nest
The super creates a distinct boundary within the hive. The lower boxes are reserved for the queen to lay eggs and raise the "brood" (young bees), while the upper superstructure is designated for food storage.
The Purpose: Managing Surplus
Capturing Nectar Flow
Honey supers are typically deployed during a "nectar flow." This is a specific time of year when local flora produces nectar abundantly, driving the bees to collect more resources than they immediately need.
Facilitating Harvest
By encouraging bees to store excess honey in these upper boxes, beekeepers can harvest the crop without disturbing the brood nest below. This separation simplifies the extraction process and protects the developing bees.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
The Risk of Brood in the Super
While the primary purpose of a super is honey storage, bees do not naturally respect the beekeeper's labels. Without intervention, the queen may move up into the super and lay eggs.
Impurities in the Harvest
If brood is laid in the super, it complicates the harvest. The frames will contain developing larvae alongside the honey, making extraction difficult and potentially harming the colony's population.
Management Solutions
To maintain the purity of the honey super, many beekeepers use a device called a queen excluder. This screen allows worker bees to pass through and store honey in the super but prevents the larger queen from entering and laying eggs.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
- If your primary focus is maximizing harvest: Add supers just before the major nectar flow begins to ensure bees have immediate space to store the influx of resources.
- If your primary focus is colony management: Monitor your supers regularly; if the queen has moved up, you may need to relocate her to the lower brood box to keep the honey frames clean.
The effective use of a honey super allows you to harmonize the colony's natural hoarding instinct with your goal of a clean, manageable honey harvest.
Summary Table:
| Component | Primary Function | Location in Hive |
|---|---|---|
| Honey Super | Stores surplus honey for harvesting | Above the brood boxes |
| Brood Box | Nesting area for queen and larvae | Lower section of the hive |
| Frames | Infrastructure for building wax comb | Inside supers and brood boxes |
| Queen Excluder | Prevents queen from laying eggs in honey | Between brood nest and super |
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