Placement of your hive

One of the first things we talk to people wanting to purchase a native stingless bee hive is where to locate the hive in your yard. Whilst our bees are pretty robust and resilient, there are a few rules that we follow when placing hives to ensure the success of your colony. Bearing in mind, we are talking about placing hives native to South East Queensland, in positions within South East Queensland.

Correct placement of your hive gives it the best chance of maximum growth and longevity, because, let’s face it we want our hives to last for generations. A well positioned hive will increase your opportunity to split or divide your hive regularly as well as harvest honey from time to time.

Guidelines for hive placement:

Whilst they are not hard and fast rules, the following provides the guidelines we tend to stick to when identifying suitable locations for a colony of stingless bees:

• Place your hive facing a north easterly direction so that it receives morning sun on the front entrance of the hive.

• Your hive should be out of full summer sun before 11am. Under a tree is ideal. Also factor in that during summer the sun is high in the sky whereas during winter, the sun is lower. A great summer position for your hive may not be a great position in winter because your hive may receive minimal sun and therefore take longer to warm up. This means they your bees will spend less time foraging and sourcing food for the colony. The image below illustrates the difference between summer and winter sun positioning. Now consider your hive position and how the difference in sun position will affect your hive at different times of the year. We have some hive positions which are great in summer but terrible in winter because they receive very little sun in the colder months. We move these hives for the colder months (to a sunny location more than 2 km away) and bring them back to their original position in the warmer months.

• Consider secondary heat sources that may radiate heat, particularly during heat wave conditions (e.g. iron fences etc). Note the hive in the below image is positioned quite close to the green colorbond (metal) fence. The position of the hive allowed it to receive the morning sun, but we hadn’t considered the westerly (afternoon) sun hit the other side of the colorbond fence resulting in it radiating such immense heat during particularly hot Brisbane summer days. This affected the temperature of the colony and caused it to overheat. Over the course of about a week we moved the hive slightly away from the fence. Enough that it still received the morning sun, but was no longer affected by the secondary heat source in the afternoon.

• Select a well ventilated position, but do try to keep hives out of wind corridors.

• Consider any kids or pets which may knock hives over. You may wish to place your hive on a hive stand up off the ground. Many hive stands allow you to secure the hive with a couple of screws either side (like the one below).

• Ensure the entrance is clear of branches or plants so your bees have a clear flight path in and out of the hive. Also keep an eye out for sneaky spiders webs across the entrance.

• If placing your hive on a hive stand, star picket or post, smear a layer of Vaseline or something similar about halfway up the post. This will prevent ants from traveling up to the hive. A strong colony will keep the ants out, but they will sometimes nest in and around the hive which is more of a pain than anything.

• Consider the security of your hive. Australian native stingless bee hives are a hot commodity and have been known to ‘go missing’ from backyards, schools and daycares. If you can, try to ensure your hive is not in public view, or if it is, you may wish to consider storing it in a secure cage to limit the chances of it being stolen. The image below shows a security cage we had custom made to place in a primary school. The hive is placed in a lockable cage and stand which is cemented into the ground.

• The last and arguably one of the most important considerations for placing your hive, is finding a location where you can sit, watch and enjoy them. There is nothing more peaceful and enjoyable than sitting with a cuppa (or insert beverage of choice) and watching the bees go about their business. They are truly fascinating.

Is there anything else you consider when placing a hive? Please share any questions or experiences in the comments.