LangstrothSystem

The Langstroth hive, also known as the Langstroth system, is a type of movable-frame beehive invented by Lorenzo Langstroth in 1851. It revolutionized beekeeping by providing a practical way to manage bee colonies and harvest honey. The key innovation is the use of frames that can be easily removed from the hive for inspection or honey extraction without disrupting the entire colony.

Langstroth's design is based on the principle of "bee space," an optimal gap of approximately 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) that bees tend to leave open. This space prevents bees from building burr comb or propolis between the frames and hive parts, allowing for easy removal of individual components. The hive consists of a bottom board, brood boxes (where the queen lays eggs and bees raise young), honey supers (where bees store honey), inner cover, and outer cover.

The movable frames within the hive are designed to hang parallel to each other. This design allows beekeepers to inspect the health of the colony, check for diseases or pests, and manage the hive's population and honey production effectively. The Langstroth hive is the most widely used beehive design globally, adopted by both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers due to its efficiency and ease of use. Variations of the Langstroth hive exist, differing in size and number of boxes, but the fundamental principles of movable frames and bee space remain consistent.