Though something of a cliché, it’s often said that if you ask a question of 10 beekeepers, you are likely to get at least 11 opinions! Joking aside, it’s true that beekeeping triggers so much discussion, which is one of its joys. From the more mundane (“Should I use a queen excluder?”) to the broader, more far-reaching (“Do I really need to treat for Varroa?”), there are virtually no beekeeping topics where beekeepers uniformly share the same opinions.

There are so many resources available now to beekeepers, in the form of websites, YouTube videos, webinars, and good, old-fashioned books. But as the new beekeeper starts and expands their knowledge, they sometimes come across contrary perspectives on apparently benign topics.

In some ways, this can be infuriating and confusing. But with a mindset of always having an open mind and a burning desire to continue learning, beekeeping is a hobby that just keeps on giving.

But, yes, it can be a problem, especially for the new beekeeper who hasn’t yet established concrete ideas. So how do we at PerfectBee approach this? Rather than “dictate”, we prefer to educate and discuss the myriad of topics, so each beekeeper can form his or her own informed opinion. And here’s the thing…even with seemingly clear and well-established “facts”, there is often a different perspective. And quite often, that alternative viewpoint actually comes from a place of truth.

In this, the first article of our new “On The Other Hand….” series, we’re going to look at some of these topics that trigger different opinions. For each statement, we offer a “Case For…” and “Case Against…”. The intent is NOT necessarily to lean one way or the other. Instead, we try to take a balanced look at both sides of our opinionated coin. Doing so, we hope, exposes perspectives you may not have considered.

Let’s kick off with…

🐝"To enable worker bee success, avoid using a queen excluder”🐝

As many beekeepers are aware, the grid-like queen excluder was introduced as a tool to control the queen's movement within the hive, preventing brood in honey supers. In some circumstances this works like a charm. However, many decide against using a queen excluder. It’s quite common to hear those with a less-than-positive opinion of queen excluders to provocatively call them “honey excluders”! Let’s take a look at this debate.

This makes sense because:

• Separating the bees with an excluder is unnatural. In the wild, honeybees live and work together. They have the system figured out.

• The larger drones can get stuck in the excluder.

• Worker bees' wings can get damaged as they pass through the small opening.

• The brood box can become honey bound, meaning the queen has nowhere to lay eggs, thus fewer bees are produced.

• Many beekeepers feel they see a higher honey yield when bees are not inhibited by an excluder. They move more freely and produce honey quickly.

On the other hand…

• A queen excluder allows for easier hive inspections, as you know where the queen will be (or, more specifically, where she will NOT be).

• This can make it easier if you need to isolate the queen for frame manipulation, making splits, or combining hives.

• Additionally, since only honey is found in the honey super (no brood to worry about) harvesting honey is more straightforward.

• It can help control hive population for the types of bees that prefer to make brood instead of honey by limiting brood to certain boxes.

• Less brood means fewer Varroa mites (and who doesn't want that?).

🐝"You should always leave the honey in the first year of beekeeping”

It’s recommended that in the first year of a hive, one should not harvest any honey, but rather leave it all for the bees. As a general rule, you can’t go too wrong with this mentality and it’s a conservative and pragmatic approach. But not everyone agrees.

This makes sense because:

• One should always put the bees' wellness first. This takes into consideration that small (which includes new nucs) or weak colonies need all the honey they can make.

• We want our bees to successfully survive winter! This means they have plenty of honey to consume (50-80 pounds, depending on the intensity and length of your winter).

• If you live where winters are warm, the bees will be more active and consume more honey.

• We also want our bees to thrive. This means they have plenty of honey, even in summer, for dearths or rainy days.

• Some beekeepers consider a colony that has not yet successfully overwintered to be “unproven” in terms of their honey needs.

On the other hand...

• You may have started with a large colony (ie, a full deep with 10 frames, brood, pollen, and honey) and feel comfortable they have the resources they will need.

• You may have had an exceptional nectar flow this season, and that honey HAS to go somewhere!

• You may not have experienced a dearth this year.

• You may live where winters are short and mild.

• You may plan on feeding your bees through the winter and feel that this, alongside their honey reserves, will be all they need.

🐝”Always start with two or more hives”🐝

When asking or being asked about how to start beekeeping, most everyone hears (or suggests) that starting with a minimum of two hives is a good idea. That’s with good reason and, in fact, is one aspect of starting beekeeping where we at PerfectBee have a pretty strong opinion. But, again, let’s look at both sides of this coin.

This makes sense because:

• You can compare colonies, which helps you learn faster.

• You will be able to sense more quickly when something is wrong

• You may have the opportunity to save a weaker hive (ie, move a queen cell over, share brood-filled frames, share honey, etc.)

• If one hive is weak, the strong colony collects honey, and you won’t miss the honey flow.

• More hives help with swarm control because you can move frames between boxes.

• More hives = more honey!

• You’ll reach your goals faster.

• You have more resources and options when things don’t go the way you hope. For instance, if you lose a hive, you still have one left.

  On the other hand...

• It’s less expensive to start with one hive.

• You may have a very small space or perhaps live in a city where you cannot keep more than one hive (and equipment).

• All your focus can be on just one hive- you can really “baby it”.

• Maybe you’re very uncertain if beekeeping is the hobby for you, and just want to try it, starting small, before expanding your beeyard.

• Perhaps you are completely aware of the possible loss of your one and only hive, and are fine with taking a chance. There are many stories of people who started with just one hive and then started making splits the next year. Some beekeepers successfully keep one hive only, and have done so for years.

• There are no rules as to how many to start with (and you have that rebel attitude, lol).

Conclusion

For new beekeepers starting their journey, remember that your path will be unique! Sifting through the opinion glut is just part of the adventure. It's essential to weigh both sides of these arguments and make informed decisions based on your values, your local environment, and your personal goals as a beekeeper.

And for the seasoned beekeeper, you may find yourself in changing circumstances that require a look into the “other side” of the topic. You may have even surprised yourself in the past when you altered opinions and “polarized” to the opposing view. And thus it goes, in the ever-changing world of beekeeping.

In the upcoming posts of this series, we'll explore more beekeeping myths, facts, and views, and investigate both sides of the topic. If you're ready to learn and grow, you're in the right place. Let's navigate this together!

Stay tuned for our next post, and remember to keep your minds open and your bee suits on (which is another polarizing statement to be explored)!

Happy beekeeping!

If you have any questions or topics you'd like us to cover, feel free to leave a comment below!

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The Langstroth is one of the longest-standing and most popular choices for hobbyists and commercial beekeepers alike. It is widely used, across the world, because it balances efficiency, modularity, and ease of use. The standardization of its dimensions make it easy to find compatible parts, and a vast support network of resources, mentors, and suppliers makes it beginner friendly.

If you're starting out, the Langstroth is the hive you'll find referenced in most beekeeping courses, clubs, and local apiaries. There are many reasons for this. Some of the many benefits include:

• Standardized sizes of components give you the ability to purchase from different manufacturers.

• A precise design that keeps the needs of the bees in mind, especially in regards to bee space.

• The Langstroth is cost-effective, due to the significant demand and adherence to standardized components.

• Components that can be used across different hives, such as when moving a box from one hive to another.

• Removable frames facilitate simplified honey harvesting and easier hive inspections, without destroying the wax comb that bees have worked so hard to create.

It is important for beekeepers to understand the key benefits of choosing a Langstroth hive.

Langstroth Hive Components

As described below and despite the benefits of standardization, there are many different Langstroth hive configurations, materials, and unique Langstroth-inspired designs available commercially.

But it is important to note that the hive components used in a Langstroth setup are generally the same across apiaries.

A Langstroth setup, regardless of frame size, count, or hive material, is typically as follows, each component also having various style options:

1. Outer Cover (aka “top cover”). This is the “roof” of the beehive, protecting it from the elements, including rain and snow. There are various options here.

   1. Telescoping: The most common choice, this fits over the top like a box lid and extends slightly over the sides, protecting the hive. Usually paired with an inner cover underneath.

   2. Insulated: These have built-in insulation to help regulate hive temperature in extreme climates, making them a perfect choice for overwintering bees in colder areas. Note that “telescoping” and “insulated” are not mutually exclusive - many beekeepers use insulated top/outer covers.

   3. Ventilated: These include screened or vented channels to improve airflow and reduce moisture buildup, important for helping bees regulate their hive conditions, especially in humid regions.

2. Inner Cover. Sitting beneath the outer cover and atop the uppermost hive body, the inner cover creates a buffer between the bees and the outer cover. This helps with moisture, airflow, as well as making the outer cover easier to remove.

   1. Deep Rim Inner Covers: These feature a rim (typically about ¾" to 1") around the edge, creating space for feeding options, such as fondant or pollen patties, or extra ventilation.

   2. Standard Inner Covers: Flatter than the deep rim inner cover, these also have a center hole and sometimes include a notch for ventilation or an upper entrance. These are basic, yet functional, and often included with beginner kits.

3. Boxes. To House the Brood Nest, these are typically the lower boxes in the hives.

   1. Deep Hive Bodies: These are full capacity boxes, designed to maximize the space available for the bees. While a fully populated deep box can be very heavy, this is perhaps a little less bothersome as compared to supers (see below), since they may not need to be lifted so often.

   2. Medium Hive Bodies: Though shorter than deeps, mediums can also be used for brood in all-medium configurations, which is a choice that’s increasing in popularity as they are lighter and easier to handle. When using mediums for the brood nest, however, be sure to keep in mind that you’ll need 3 medium boxes to create the same space that 2 deep boxes offer.

4. Supers. Still technically a “box”, many beekeepers use the term super to describe boxes intended to store nectar and honey.

   1. Mediums: These are the most common choice to use for honey supers since they balance a decent honey storage capacity with manageable weight (each can weigh 40–60 lbs when full).

   2. Shallows: Since shallows are even shorter than mediums, they’re easier to lift, though they hold less honey. These are often used by those with physical limitations or for cut-comb honey.

5. Frames and Foundation. Hanging neatly from the top of a box/super, there are many choices of frame and foundation. Frames are either shallow, medium or deep and are used consistently in a box of the same depth. That leaves the question of box size (in terms if the number of frames).

   1. 10-frame: Considered the standard size for most Langstroth hives. Offers more space per box but is heavier when full.

   2. 8-frame: Narrower and lighter, ideal for smaller beekeepers or those concerns about lifting heavy weights.

   3. 5-frame: Used in nucleus hives (nucs)—smaller hives for raising queens, splits, or temporary housing.

6. Bottom Board. The beehive's base, where bees enter/exit, and onto which debris will fall. Once again, we have choices.

   1. Screened Bottom Board: Includes a mesh screen for ventilation and mite monitoring. This can help reduce moisture and allow debris to fall through, often featuring an optional tray to help with beehive inspections and mite counts.

   2. Solid Reversible Bottom Board: Made from pine (or cedar) wood, reversible bottom boards give the beekeeper the option to adjust the entrance. One side has a small entrance to be used in the winter, the other has a larger one that’s often used in warmer months to increase airflow. A classic and durable design.

7. Hive Stand. Though often seen as an “optional” component, hive stands are an integral part of maintaining a healthy beehive for most beekeepers. They raise the hive off the ground for added airflow, moisture control, and easier access. They also help prevent pests like ants and help to protect a wooden bottom board from rot. A hive stand can be as simple as cinder blocks or as refined as a metal, plastic, or wooden framed stand.

Langstroth Hive Setup Options

When selecting your Langstroth beehive equipment, there are several configurations from which to choose.

• 8-Frame vs. 10-Frame Boxes

  • 8-frame hives are lighter and easier to manage. Great for those with physical limitations or wanting a gentler lift.

  • 10-frame hives offer more space per box, reducing the number of boxes needed but increasing individual box weight.

  • 4 or 5-frame boxes are typically only used to raise nucleus colonies and, as such, only hold 4 or 5 frames at a time.

• Box Sizes (Depth)

  • Deep boxes are typically used for the lower boxes in the hive for brood rearing, though some beekeepers use them for honey supers too. In Langstroth hives, deep boxes have the following dimensions:

    • 10-Frame Boxes: 19-7/8” L x 16-1/4″ W x 9-1/2″ H

    • 8-Frame boxes: 19-7/8″ L x 13-3/4″ W x 9-1/2″ H

  • Medium boxes are sometimes used for brood boxes, but more commonly as honey supers. They have the following dimensions.

    • 10-Frame Boxes: 19-7/8″ L x 16-1/4″ W x 6-5/8″ H

    • 8-Frame boxes: 19-7/8″ L x 13-3/4″ W x 6-5/8″ H

  • Shallow boxes are used as honey supers and have the following dimensions.

    • 10-Frame Boxes: 19-7/8″ L x 16-1/4″ W x 5-11/16″ H

    • 8-Frame Boxes: 19-7/8″ L x 13-3/4″ W x 5-11/16″ H

• Assembled vs. Unassembled - Regardless of the material you choose (see below), you’ll need to decide whether you feel comfortable assembling the beehive yourself. Ordering pre-assembled equipment makes setting up a new beehive much easier. However, it can come with an added cost for both assembly and shipping, so many beekeepers choose to assemble their hives themselves.

Types of Langstroth Beehive Materials

After you’ve decided which hive configuration will work best for you and your bees, you’ll also have a choice in which material you prefer your hives to be made from.

Though there are some other options on the market, the most common choices for beehive materials are as follows.

• Traditional Wooden Hives – Usually made from pine, cypress, or cedar. Though wood is breathable and closer to natural beehives, it generally requires weather protection (like paint or wax coating). Wooden hive bodies are typically 3/4” thick and are often available in various “grades” that may affect the lifespan of the wood and the price point.

  • Budget Grade: The most inexpensive option due to the wood having visible knots, cracks, and loose joints. The wood will still function well, and the price point makes it a good choice for beginner beekeepers. However, these hive bodies or frames may need to be replaced sooner than wood with higher quality grades.

  • Commercial Grade: The most popular choice for beehive equipment, commercial grade offers a balance between quality and price. Though there are typically some knots in the wood and small imperfections, quality is still high without any compromise to structural integrity.

  • Select Grade: This grade offers the highest quality possible with the fewest imperfections. Select grade is more aesthetically pleasing, may last longer, and joints fit together more tightly, making it worth the additional cost.

• Polystyrene Beehives - Polystyrene is a high-density material that is both durable and can be a big help with insulation, to help bees regulate temperature and moisture. This material is much lighter than wood, making it a choice for those who can’t lift as much weight. But it still offers better protection from the elements, due to its higher R-value.

  • BeeMax: Lightweight and well-insulated for extreme climates. These are popular in colder regions but can be more delicate.

  • Lyson: A highly-popular European brand offering precision-molded hives with high insulation and durability. Lyson beehives offer specialized components to help with things like ventilation and have the bonus of adding integrated feeders and accessories to your setup.

Want to find out even more about Langstroth beehives? Check out our article here to learn more!

Colony members, take an in-depth look at all components and options available with a Langstroth hive setup in our member-only lesson here.

The Importance of Quality When Choosing Your Beehive Equipment

Several types of Langstroth hive materials are available commercially, all with different goals in mind, depending on what your bees need and your needs as a beekeeper.

Not all Langstroth hives are created equal. In addition to understanding the available wood grades, here’s what else you can look for when evaluating quality:

• Wood Type: Cypress and cedar resist rot naturally; pine is affordable and common, but outer components will need sealing with exterior latex paint or wax.

• Knots: Fewer knots = more structural integrity.

• Manufacturing Precision: Tightly milled joints and standardized frame spacing matter for long-term fit and durability.

• Domestic vs. Imported: US-built hives support local businesses and often offer better quality control.

• Supplier Longevity: Reputable suppliers offer replacement parts, warranties, and consistent dimensions.

PerfectBee Signature Hives

The bottom line is that investing in quality now prevents potential headaches later! That’s where PerfectBee Signature Hives can make all the difference. Our hives are high-quality, US-made Langstroth hives, conveniently available with 8 or 10 frames, and in either 2 or 4 box configurations.

PerfectBee hives have been proven over many years, with high-quality components made here in the U.S., with locally-sourced Eastern White Pine. With interlocking finger joints for added stability and easy-to-grab handholds on each box, our hive bodies make it easier than ever to complete your beekeeping inspections.

Our wooden frames are made with the same high-quality materials and detailed design and production process. Whether prying up frames during an inspection or harvesting honey frames, you can have faith that your wooden frames will hold up to any beekeeping process.

Signature Hive Configurations

We’ve packaged PerfectBee Signature Hives configurations in three distinct editions – Essentials, Plus, and Elite – to easily fit within your bee yard, your requirements and your budget.

Essentials Edition

The PerfectBee Hive Essentials Edition includes everything that you need to support a new colony. Think of it as the “workhorse” in your bee yard.

In addition to the high-quality boxes, the Essentials hive setup includes a standard entrance reducer, a galvanized steel-covered outer cover, a standard inner cover, and a reversible bottom board. High-quality full plastic frames with a standard wax coating are also included.

Plus Edition

The Plus Edition offers additional benefits, including improved insulation, improved Varroa Monitoring, and increased comfort for your bees.

The galvanized steel-covered outer cover is insulated. We include a deep rim inner cover, allowing the feeding of patties above the top box. A screened-bottom board is included to help with your varroa mite management plan. And our high-quality full plastic frames feature an additional heavy coating of wax, improving the likelihood of your bees building comb.

Elite Edition

The Elite Edition goes beyond the Plus edition by improving aesthetics and strength benefits. It includes select-grade woodenware. This grade of high-quality woodenware option is hand-selected to be the best of the best, with fewer knots and superior durability.

In addition to high-quality boxes and wooden frames, the Elite hive setup includes a cedar entrance reducer, an Ultimate hive top cover to add insulation and airflow, the BeeSmart Ultimate insulated inner cover, and the Ultimate screened-bottom board to help with your varroa mite management plan.

High-quality wooden frames with plastic foundation with an additional heavy-wax coating are also included. A triple layer of wax is applied to foundations to get bees quickly interested in building combs on these frames.

You’ll find many Langstroth hive options here in the PerfectBee Store! And don’t forget about our current sale on the high-quality Signature Hive Series!

Uncommon Hive Types Inspired by the Langstroth Style

Innovative beekeepers have experimented with horizontal or other sizing and layout designs, while keeping some Langstroth measurements and frames the same:

• Long Langstroth: A horizontal hive that uses standard Langstroth frames in a long single box. This reduces lifting and is ideal for those with mobility limitations, but may be difficult to find standardized components.

• Layens-Langstroth hybrids: Adaptations combining the depth of Layens’ hives with the modularity of Langstroth frames. Because of the Layens’ hive components, it may be difficult to find components or feeders that work well with this hive type across manufacturers.

• AZ/Slovenian Beehives: A specialized type of beehive design that is commonly used in Slovenia, but is increasingly popular in other regions, especially the U.S., due to its ability to keep bees healthy and productive, without the heavy lifting that standard Langstroth hives require. It's characterized by being placed inside a bee house structure, often with multiple hives stacked together and accessed from the rear, with frames that slide out instead of being pulled out from the top.

These alternatives offer ergonomic and management benefits while maintaining the familiar foundation that the Langstroth design offers.

Next steps...

If you’re just getting started with beekeeping, the Langstroth hive is your most accessible and supported option. And if you’re thinking about switching from another hive design to Langstroth, there are many benefits to making the switch.

Consider your physical needs, climate, and long-term goals when choosing frame count and materials. And if you want to skip the guesswork, PerfectBee’s Signature Hive Editions offer a solid foundation tailored to your beekeeping journey.

Beekeepers are passionate people, and as such, they often really enjoy the learning aspect of their hobby. Learning about beekeeping can come from traditional places, like books and online beekeeping courses (such as our Academy syllabus), but the most important lessons are typically those learned through experience (whether that’s your experience or someone else’s).

We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such an amazing community of beekeepers through Colony, especially those who are willing to share what they’ve learned along their own journeys.

That’s why we’re so thrilled to keep adding to our awesome series: Beekeeper Stories!

Why Learning through Others Makes a Difference

When starting a beekeeping hobby, you realize pretty quickly just how much there is to learn, know, and do if you want to have healthy colonies and success in the bee yard. But as important as the lessons are that you may learn while taking online courses, reading a hard copy of a beekeeping book, or listening to lectures about honeybees, there’s nothing that can help you learn better than real-life experiences.

Many beekeepers learn the hard way, by making a silly mistake that they hadn’t thought about avoiding in the past or didn’t realize was important in the grand scheme of things. Those lessons learned can be the most impactful, especially the difficult ones that can’t be undone. Once you make a mistake like that, the lesson you learned along the way is likely to stick with you for the rest of your beekeeping hobby.

Instead of waiting to find something out the hard way yourself by getting it wrong the first time, our Beekeeper Stories give you the chance to learn through the experiences and knowledge built up by real beekeepers in our community.

So far in this series, we’ve enjoyed covering some truly amazing and inspiring beekeeping stories.

Learn a little bit more about each Beekeeper Story we’ve received so far below and read on to find out how you can share your beekeeping story!

Kelle: How becoming a beekeeper can turn into so much more.

Kelle’s passion for beekeeping began when she realized how much she loved learning about these fascinating creatures and their intricate lives.

With a story that focuses on the difficult challenges she’s faced and how hard it was to overcome them, Kelle’s resilience and openness are a true inspiration. Which is how she feels about her own bees, too, totally inspired by their resilience.

Kelle mentioned that her Beekeeper Story was highlighted at PerfectBee while at a beekeeping club meeting, and they were quite supportive. They’ll be linking to her story on their website, and she’s excited to tell them all about her Colony membership at their next meeting, too.

In her beekeeper story, Kelle shares with us some of her favorite beekeeping memories, interesting ways that her hobby and beekeeping tasks may differ from others, and the important ways that she has changed as a person since becoming a beekeeper.

Get inspired through Kelle’s beekeeping journey by reading through her story here, you’ll be glad you did!

Marta: Sometimes, beekeeping chooses you!

When we started writing brand new beekeeper stories for 2025, longtime PerfectBee collaborator Marta was one of the stories we were most excited about.

Marta’s expansive beekeeping knowledge and advice have helped us create some amazing content throughout the last year or so, and we couldn’t be more grateful to work with such a fun, friendly, and knowledgeable beekeeper.

In addition to talking about the years that Marta has spent learning all she can about beekeeping, her story covers how she ended up there, despite being initially scared of bees!

We look forward to working with Marta to create dynamic beekeeping resources for you all in the future and know that you’ll love reading her story as much as we did!

Nicole: Beekeeping. Not like keeping chickens!

Another PerfectBee team member, Nicole, started her beekeeping journey in a similar way to Marta’s. Though she wasn’t necessarily scared of bees at first, she quickly realized that she knew a LOT less about the complex world of honeybees than she initially thought.

Nicole joined the PerfectBee team in 2023 and since then, has been the main content writer of our beekeeping and honeybee content. Yes, she’s writing this particular post, now, too!

Nicole may not have always had an interest in bees or beekeeping, but once she developed one, she quickly realized that it would be a lifelong passion.

Once you’ve been stung by beekeeping, the learning truly never stops; no wonder it’s so addictive! Check out Nicole’s beekeeper story here and find out what she’s learned along the way.

John: The many ways to enjoy bees

John’s beekeeper story started in the way that many others do, with a colony of honeybees in need of rescuing! Where others may have called an exterminator or more experienced beekeeper, his personal motto of “fear nothing – conquer your dreams” made him realize that he could bee the one to turn into that more experienced beekeeper.

With a hobby and colonies that grew rapidly through the years, John eventually expanded his beekeeping interests, too. He now creates beautiful items from his hives’ by-products like candles, salves, propolis tinctures, lip balms, and of course, he finds the honey quite enjoyable, too.

Want to know more about his fascinating journey? Check out John’s full beekeeper story here!

Sandy: It started with a swarm.

Sandy’s beekeeper story may be one of our longest ones; it began over 40 years ago (with some breaks in between) and, like many others, her passion for bees was ignited by an encounter with a wild swarm of bees.

From working to teach kids about honeybees at a local school to creating a partnership with her husband, Sandy has had several very uncommon experiences, mishaps, and beekeeping goals throughout her beekeeping experience.

Want to know more about Sandy’s beekeeping journey? Check out her full beekeeper story here!

Through the various stories we’ve covered, we’ve realized just how much there is to learn from the experience of other beekeepers.

That’s why we can’t wait to cover more beekeeper stories, from beekeepers of every experience level… maybe you’ll be next!

Would you like to share your story? We’d love to hear from you.

Simply click here to learn more about the process and send a message to let us know you’d like to share your own unique beekeeper story.

Coming soon…

We love being able to share everything there is to know about interesting beekeepers and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Keep an eye on your inbox and stay excited for our next edition of Beekeeper Stories! We’ll share another beekeeper story, including all the adventures, tips, tricks, and lessons they’ve encountered along the way, very soon.

Though there are certainly genetic differences between different types of bees in general, honeybee populations can be greatly affected by genetic diversity among not just individual bees, but different colonies, too.

Looking at the Science Behind Genetic Diversity in Honeybees

Ensuring genetic diversity among honeybees may sound like something that bees can handle on their own. While that is somewhat true, it’s still a very important part of beekeeping to understand because beekeepers can affect bees’ ability to maintain diversity within the colony, even without intending to.

Diverse genetics among honeybees can help ensure healthier populations by increasing disease resistance and hygienic behaviors (like those that help bees manage varroa mite levels) and can also help colonies to have better abilities in adapting to and surviving through stressful situations.

The Strategic Honeybee Reproduction Process

Though the way that honeybees complete the actual act of mating is like that of other animal species, the way that they pass on chromosomes to future generations is vastly different. To preserve genetic diversity within the colony, a queen bee will mate with multiple drones from other colonies, leading to half-sisters with different fathers from across various apiaries. This helps to increase diversity not just within your beehive(s), but throughout the entire population of honeybees in your area.

After the queen has finished taking her mating flights, she’ll store sperm from various drones to use for fertilizing the eggs of female bees (those destined to become either workers or queens) later. Male bees, or the drones, are born from unfertilized eggs. This sex-determination process is referred to as “haplodiploidy”, with drones being referred to as “haploid” and female bees as “diploid” *.

*Colony members, learn more with our in-depth Academy lesson on Honeybee Genetics!

Consequences of Low Genetic Diversity

When genetic diversity is limited, or becomes so, it’s not just the current bees who are at risk of being affected, but future generations of bees, too.

Diversity limitations can be a risk to honeybees in many ways, but primarily cause:

1. Lowered immunity and increased susceptibility to pests, parasites, and diseases.

2. A lower chance of overwintering success.

3. Decreased ability to forage and store resources.

4. Lessened honey production.

5. Inbreeding and reduced queen fertility.

Over time, limited genetic diversity puts the whole colony under strain by putting the current population, AND subsequent generations, at risk of weakened immune systems and contracting the same disease. This can be totally devastating and may cause the entire colony to perish, no matter how healthy they had been previously.

Human Influence on Honeybee Genetics

Queen rearing isn’t something that’s often done by new beekeepers. However, any beekeeper who’s new to queen rearing should take the time to understand the science behind it, or they risk holding their colonies back by weakening their genetics and immunity.

Some beekeepers choose to rear their own queens with the specific process of impacting genetics in mind, especially those involved in commercial honey or pollination operations. Because some races or genetic lines of bees have traits that may lead to an increase in their productivity (or other favorable behaviors), queen breeders may select queens from just one genetic line to (hopefully) end up with more bees with those traits.

In turn, this severely limits their genetic diversity, and though bees born from these queens initially may have the favored aesthetics or other traits, future generations may suffer in various ways.

Importing honeybee queens that are a different species results in bees born with a healthier mix of genes and behaviors. Hybridization (or the crossing of subspecies) may not sound ideal as it results in bees who lose some of the “pure” species’ traits and are considered “mutts”. But in reality, it can be quite beneficial to populations in the long term as it aids in increased diversity and adaptability across the entire population.

Promoting and Preserving Genetic Diversity

Honeybees naturally work quite hard to ensure their genetics remain diverse; that’s why many drone bees hang out at “congregation areas” to wait for their chance at mating with a queen from a different colony.

As beekeepers, there are a few things that we can do to help them with this goal:

• Source replacement queens from multiple different, yet reputable breeders.

• When possible, support regional stock and survivor stock programs.

• You may also be able to participate in (or support) regional breeding cooperatives.

• Consider joining your local beekeeping club to learn more about what’s available in your area and click here to read more from the USDA.

• If you’re breeding honeybee queens, especially to sell to other beekeepers, genetic testing IS available to ensure you’re helping maintain diversity among your queens.

• Diversity can also be managed by instrumental insemination of new honeybee queens.

A Long-Term Perspective

Being a good beekeeper and having a successful hobby (or commercial operation) is all about knowing not just how to help and protect your bees’ health but also understanding the ways that you and your bees may impact future populations, too. Responsible beekeeping means being a part of the solution to the issue of less genetic diversity among honeybees.

As you gain experience and knowledge through your trips to your bee yard, you can help other beekeepers understand the importance of diverse honeybee genetics, too. Genetic diversity gives bees a much better chance at facing evolving pathogens and rapidly changing climate/weather patterns, which is important for beekeepers of every experience level and type of beekeeping practice.

Our bees are only as strong as the genes they pass along, so let’s work together & make them count!

We had a little chat internally and came to an interesting conclusion.

10 Years of Helping Beekeepers

Over the years, we’ve published hundreds of beekeeping articles through columns like A New Beekeeper’s Journal, Beekeeper Stories, our blog, and more. And that’s even before we mention the almost 100 detailed lessons in our popular Academy Beekeeping Syllabus.

All this adds up to a great resource for visitors, customers, and members alike and for new and experienced beekeepers. So, in the course of the nearly 10 years that PerfectBee has been helping and supporting beekeepers, we’ve answered a lot of questions.

But let’s think back to that visitor who contacted us with her question. It turns out the specific answer was, frankly, buried in a number of articles. So, we decided to kick off a little project.

We decided to answer a few questions.

A Beekeeping “Getting Started”

Up first, we created a new page to address some of the common questions we hear so often from those looking to start beekeeping.

Our Getting Started page includes the steps to follow to have a successful hobby, covering important questions that beekeepers may have along the way.

• Step 1: You and Beekeeping

• Step 2: What You Need

• Step 3: Installing Your Beehives

• Step 4: Keeping Healthy Bees

And There’s More…

But that was just the start. We decided to keep on going, and so far in 2025, we have published many new Q&As.

Below is the full list of our answered questions; just head to our Beekeeping Q&A page to find links to their answers, plus many more resources related to each.

Learn About Bees

What happens inside and outside the hive is captivating to beekeepers and, indeed, non-beekeepers.

• Can I be a beekeeper if I’m allergic?

• Should I join a beekeeping club?

• Do honeybees hibernate?

• Where do bees go to the bathroom?

• How long does it take for a honeybee egg to hatch?

• How long do honeybees live?

• What is the role of the drone honeybee?

• Do drone bees serve a purpose outside of mating?

• What is the role of a queen honeybee?

• What is the role of a worker honeybee?

• Why is condensation in a beehive dangerous?

• What are the biggest threats to honeybees in the winter?

• Are bears a threat to my beehive(s)?

• What are "Winter Bees"?

• Why do bees buzz?

• What temperature is too cold for honeybees?

• How do honeybees reproduce?

• Can I let a beekeeper use my land for their beehives?

• Can I share beekeeping with my kids?

• How and why do bees pollinate plants?

• Why are honeybees such awesome creatures?

• Why is bee anatomy so amazing?

• How is honey created by bees?

• Why do bees forage?

• Why do honeybees swarm?

• Why is beekeeping important?

Your Beehive

Kicking off a beekeeping passion is not just a time of great fascination, but, done well, it can be a TON of fun. Here are a few questions about this special time.

• Do I need permission to start beekeeping?

• What should I do to prepare for installing my bees?

• Where can I find tips for completing a beehive installation?

• What makes a bee yard location ideal for honeybees?

• What is the most popular type of beehive?

• Do my beehives need added insulation?

• Where can I obtain bees for a beehive?

• What is the best time of year to start beekeeping?

• What is a "Candy Board"?

• Where should I place my beehives?

• Can I mow around my beehives?

• Will I need to feed my bees?

• Other than my beehives, what equipment will I need?

• Do I need protective clothing when beekeeping?

• How do I choose a feeder to use with my hive?

• How do I use a smoker to keep bees calm?

• What should be done during a beekeeping inspection?

• What should new beekeepers know?

A Healthy Beehive

You’re now an “official” beekeeper, but keep in mind, the learning doesn’t end here! Keeping your bees healthy requires a wealth of knowledge and understanding. Check out some of the biggest questions about keeping bees healthy to start building that foundation.

• What are the biggest threats to honeybees?

• Can I check on my bees during cold weather?

• Do bees need water in the winter?

• Are dead bees at a beehive's entrance normal?

• Can I tell if my colony is still alive in the winter?

• How do honeybees make beeswax?

• When can I harvest honey from my hives?

• How often should I inspect my beehives?

What’s Next?

Consider this a catch-up post! We’ve only recently launched this PerfectBee Substack, so many of our subscribers may not be familiar with all we offer. And with so many Q&As this year, we thought you’d like to know.

With that done, we’re getting back to “regular programming” now and have plans for some great and seasonal beekeeping posts. So, watch this space - and if you have friends and family interested in beekeeping, be sure to let them know about the PerfectBee Substack.

But a good beekeeper is a beekeeper with a plan!

Having well-considered and informed priorities this spring can make a HUGE difference in the health and productivity of your colonies, all season long.

Want to feel ready to confidently take on the 2025 beekeeping season? Pay close attention to the 5 concerns below, and you’ll be well on your way to a great season!

1. Nutrition & Colony Health

Even in warmer climates, the winter months can be hard on honeybees. The first concern of beekeepers completing hive inspections in the spring should be assessing the health and size of the surviving colony. This means checking in-hive conditions and assessing their remaining food stores.

As colonies approach times of explosive growth and as the queen starts laying again, low pollen or honey stores can spell trouble. Access to new resources is particularly important but can be a challenge.

The mere presence of blooming flowers is just half of the equation. Foraging workers must also be able to get to and return from those resources. And, when it’s another rainy or windy spring day, that might not be possible.

The growth of the colony can be truly amazing, especially for the new beekeeper who may not have the awareness of what is to come. And every egg laid needs in-cell nourishment and will eventually become one more eager mouth to feed!

With potentially tens of thousands of new bees in a very short time there can be a race, of sorts, between the need to successfully forage and the huge number of extra bees in the colony.

While you’re in the hive, be sure to assess overall colony health, too. Look for signs of common springtime concerns like Nosema and chalkbrood*, small hive beetles and Varroa mites. Catching potential health problems as early in the season as possible will make them much easier to manage and help your colony go from struggling to thriving.

*Colony member content.

2. Ventilation and Moisture Control

As spring temperatures rise, trapped moisture inside the hive can create real risks for your bees. When the moisture condenses, it can drip onto bees and brood, chilling the colony and causing unnecessary levels of stress.

To keep moisture levels in check, ensure your hive has adequate ventilation to help bees maintain proper conditions.

Adding airflow can be as easy as adjusting entrance reducers, adding a screened inner cover and/or bottom board, or making and adding a quilt box.

3. Brood Pattern & a Viable Queen

As the activities of the colony goes into overdrive and as warmer weather returns, it’s important to check that the queen has survived the winter and that she is rapidly returning to her egg-laying best!

Check early that there is a healthy, laying queen present within your beehive. Pay close attention to each frame in the brood nest and inspect the brood pattern*.

*Colony members can access our lesson on brood patterns and queen viability here.

Do you see any newly laid eggs, and if not, does the rest of the brood pattern overall look healthy?

Actually SEEING the queen isn’t essential. Experienced beekeepers like to see their queen - they appreciate her so much! But they also understand that what they really need to see during the inspection is evidence of the queen.

If you don’t see the queen conducting her business during an inspection (she can be tough to spot!), seeing eggs should at least help you feel a little better about the situation. Seeing single eggs far down inside cells will indicate that a queen was present in the hive within the last 3 days.

While a marked queen or lighted magnifying glasses are popular options for increasing queen visibility to the beekeeper, a quality brood pattern is the most important observation during an inspection.

Knowing and understanding the reproduction cycle of honeybees and the development timelines from egg to adult bee is essential to successful beekeeping, no matter the season.

4. Hive Capacity

As mentioned, increasing temperatures and new blooms start to allow bees to bring in LOTS of nectar and pollen. Under these circumstances, and with a productive queen, the colony will expand rapidly.

Bees will not only need space to store the resources coming into the hive, but also for the queen to lay eggs and raise brood, too.

A colony that feels it does not have enough space may develop the need to swarm and find a new home. Swarming is natural for honeybees, but losing bees and a queen early in the season can set your hive back.

To avoid hive capacity issues, always ensure you have extra brood boxes, supers, and frames on hand, ready to quickly add to your beehive setup when needed.

Being able to stay ahead of growth and offer space to expand, without having too much space to keep warm when temperatures are still cold, can lessen the stress on bees, allowing them a great head start on a productive season.

5. Foraging Resource Availability and Feeding

Even if your colony seems healthy, with a strong and productive queen, bees still need access to reliable and valuable food sources. Even strong colonies need reliable spring forage-but early blooms aren’t guaranteed. Some regions and climates offer abundant blooms of all types, while others may have gaps before the nectar flow truly kicks off.

So, how can a beekeeper help? Keeping ahead of the additional demand is essential, and the installation of a feeder can play a key role.

Consider adding a feeder with either pollen or sugar syrup to supplement the nutrition available to the colony, until more natural foraging sources are available.

And remember - all beekeeping is local. Though many aspects of beekeeping are relevant for all beekeepers, the local environment is an essential factor. Be aware of these, each year and every year.

Talk to beekeepers in your community about local bloom cycles and weather patterns. Take notes of what you’re seeing in and around the bee yard, too.

In Summary…

Early Spring planning is a wonderful way to prepare for beekeeping success all year. Starting the beekeeping season by making sure to understand your colony’s current situation, health status, and both their immediate and future needs can make all the difference in their growth and productivity all year long.

Take good notes. Pay close attention to what’s happening in and around the hive. Plan ahead for each key stage of the beekeeping season. And have a clear plan for each inspection, too.

Follow these principles and you are well on the way to healthy bees and a successful season.

We’ll BEE here with you along the way to help answer your questions and provide guidance.

Honeybee populations aren’t just important when it comes to beekeeping; their pollination and biodiversity impacts are crucial to food supplies worldwide. Despite their incredible physical adaptability, honeybee colonies have experienced increasing losses due to various threats like diseases, pests, and parasites (especially the ever-concerning varroa mite), habitat losses and decreased plant foraging resources, and the use of pesticides.

In 2024 and into 2025, there have been reports of a significant increase in colony losses, particularly for commercial beekeepers. See below for more on this.

Because of the increasing dangers of these threats each year, commercial and hobbyist beekeepers alike must face the sadness of a lost honeybee colony. Though it’s a sad reality of beekeeping, understanding the reasons your colony perished can often help expand your beekeeping knowledge and become a better bee-tender to future colonies.

Potential Reasons for Honeybee Colony Losses

As mentioned above, honeybees face many threats that make it very tough for them to survive in our modern world, even with the help and management of a responsible beekeeper*.

*Colony member content.

It can sometimes be difficult to determine the exact cause of colony loss, but common causes of honeybee losses (whether in hobbyist or commercial settings) in the United States include:

• Varroa Destructor mites and the diseases they spread to bees. An otherwise healthy colony can be totally devastated by a mite infestation if mite reproduction is left unchecked.

• Direct or indirect exposure to pesticides.

• Limited foraging resources and habitat loss, due to urban or agricultural land development, monoculture farming, decreased plant biodiversity, and more.

• Climate change: more extreme weather patterns with warmer temperatures and increased moisture levels.

• Nutritional deficits or starvation caused by a scarcity of valuable sources of pollen and/or nectar.

Typical Honeybee Colony Loss Statistics

Commercial beekeepers manage honeybee colonies for agricultural purposes, with a huge impact on food supplies worldwide through crop pollination or honey production.

Because commercial beekeepers require many honeybees to offer their agricultural services, they often care for many more colonies (often in multiple bee yard locations) than your typical backyard beekeeper. These organizations often manage many thousands of colonies.

Through necessity, the care and treatment regimens of commercial beekeepers are radically different from those practiced by hobbyist beekeepers. As such, direct comparisons between the two should be heavily qualified.

To hobbyist beekeepers, many of whom start the cold weather months with 1 or 2 colonies, the thought of losing 50% of those colonies is quite devastating. With proper planning, IPM practices, and good recordkeeping, though, most hobbyists don’t have an average colony loss quite that high.

Unfortunately for commercial beekeepers, though, the devastation is both emotional and financial. Despite the industry’s best efforts, it is still common for commercial operators to average losing nearly half of their colonies annually, most of which die during the winter months.

Though PerfectBee’s resources are more applicable to backyard beekeepers than commercial operators, we look to understand and recognize the importance of their beekeeping practices and impacts on the beekeeping industry.

During PerfectBee’s recent Colony Cluster live event in March 2025, our PerfectBee Ambassadors and Colony members discussed these devastating losses and concerns for potential impacts, especially to hobbyist beekeepers.*

*Colony member content. Couldn’t join us live? Don’t worry! Colony Members can listen to this discussion, as well as all the topics covered during March’s Cluster discussion, via the recording page here.

Why 2025’s Commercial Losses Are Different

The number of colonies lost across all types of beekeepers has steadily increased in past years. However, 2024 and the first months of 2025 brought alarming reports that surpass historical trends. These are concerning to honeybee scientists and researchers across the country. Initial early-season reports from commercial beekeepers reveal potentially catastrophic levels of losses, already averaging losses of 62% of their total colony count, and some with even more than that.

The beekeeping season has barely begun for 2025, and already nearly 1.1 million colonies have been reported as lost, according to a recent survey by Project Apis m (learn more here). Though it’s still early in the season and commercial beekeepers are reporting most of the losses, hobbyist and “sideliner” beekeeping operations are already noting increased losses, too.

What are the consequences of these losses?

A wide variety of crops, including almonds, blueberries, potatoes, and even alfalfa grown for livestock consumption, depend on pollination from honeybees and, therefore, will certainly be impacted by increased colony losses. Because they have the potential to be so widespread and with long-term effects, there are likely to be economic consequences to beekeepers, farmers, and consumers.

Though a definitive cause has not yet been found to understand why losses are so substantial this year, research is ongoing, and efforts are focused on understanding the data to help mitigate risks to honeybee colonies in the future.

Even hobbyist beekeepers could be directly impacted by these losses, even if they don’t lose colonies themselves. Keep in mind that if you’re purchasing bees to install this spring, your honeybee package and/or nucleus colony supplier could be affected by increased colony losses, too. This may affect the availability, pricing, and pickup date for your new colony.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a great resource that can be used to help all gardeners. But it is especially useful to beekeepers, to allow them to provide valuable resources through plants, throughout the year!

What are “Plant Hardiness Zones”?

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a guide that divides regions of North America into zones, based on average winter temperatures. Ranging from Zone 1 (the coldest temperatures) to Zone 13 (the warmest), these zones help gardeners of all types determine which plants will survive and thrive in their area.

The most recent updates to the map, in 2023, ensure zone lines are accurate and take into account all available microclimate data. These updates to the map have shifted many zones to be nearly half a zone warmer, as plant survival and winter temperatures have been seriously impacted by warmer winters.

USDA’s Overview of Recent Map Changes

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

Choosing Pollinator-Friendly Plants for Your Zone

Because not all plants offering rich sources of pollen or nectar will grow in all climates (or during all seasons), understanding and using this map is a huge help in choosing plants suited to your zone.

Ensuring plants will bloom properly and provide forage when bees really need it helps not just the pollinators in your bee yard but other native insects for miles around, too.

Once you’ve relevant zone for your own bee yard’s location, you can choose native plants that will bloom at varying times, throughout the season.

Below are some examples of bee-friendly plants by zone, with a rough guideline for when they typically bloom (adapt based on your local conditions and plant variety/type):

Zones 3–5 (Cooler Climates):

• Early Spring: Crocus, willows, snowdrops

• Summer: Coneflower (Echinacea), bee balm (Monarda), clover

• Fall: Asters, goldenrod, sedum

Zones 6–7 (Moderate Climates):

• Early Spring: Dandelions, red maples, wild cherry

• Summer: Lavender, black-eyed Susan, anise hyssop

• Fall: Joe Pye weed, sunflowers, goldenrod

Zones 8–10 (Warmer Climates):

• Early Spring: Mexican heather, acacia, citrus trees

• Summer: Basil, zinnias, cosmos

• Fall/Winter Blooms: Loquat, bottlebrush, rosemary

Choosing native plants offering nectar or pollen during times when others are experiencing a dearth can make it much easier for your colony to store resources needed to raise brood, maintain growth, and not just survive but thrive. Beekeepers can increase foraging opportunities by planting a garden near their hives specifically for their bees, especially if the surrounding land lacks natural diversity.

Consider working with your local beekeeping community and even neighbors to connect and share insights about local climates and the effect on gardening timelines, tips and tricks for success. Maybe even exchange native wildflower seed mixes! Sharing your knowledge and promoting local awareness of the importance of honeybee populations and their food sources can make a big difference to all pollinators year-round!

Want to learn more about planting for pollinators? Check out our post “Tips & Tricks for Providing Pollinator Friendly Plants” for more details and additional in-depth resources!

If you’re new to our community, here’s a bit of background on who we help, what we do, and what we offer both in and out of this exciting new space.

Introducing PerfectBee

In a nutshell, PerfectBee was founded in May 2015, and we’re coming up on our 10-year anniversary with pride and gratitude. From the start and still today, our focus has been simple:

To help hobbyist beekeepers learn about, practice, enjoy, and be successful in the wonderful pastime of beekeeping.

The word “pastime” feels like it understates the fascination and special relationship most beekeepers have with their bees. For many, it’s a passion—one that blends nature, science, and personal growth.

Over the years, we’ve been honored to support and introduce literally tens of thousands of people to beekeeping by offering:

• A free Introductory Beekeeping Course—perfect for beginners curious about how to get started

• The PerfectBee Store, featuring high-quality, U.S.-made hives, tools, protective gear, treatments, extraction equipment, and more

• A robust library of hundreds of educational articles covering real-world tips and insights on beekeeping (and beekeepers!)

• Our friendly and informative Colony membership community, where hobbyist beekeepers connect, ask questions, and share experiences

• Full access to the Academy Beekeeping Syllabus, included with Colony, offering clear, structured and easy-to-absorb online beekeeping lessons for every step of the journey

Although we help and advise beekeepers with all levels of experience, we particularly enjoy guiding those who are seriously thinking about starting in beekeeping, but not sure where to start. It’s a key part of what we do!

One thing we know for certain is, whether you’re just getting started or already have bees in your backyard, PerfectBee is here to help you grow with confidence.

So, Why Substack?

Along with being another place where we share regular, interesting and valuable articles, we created this new space out of a desire to expand our practical, real-world advice in a flexible and personal way.

We’re excited to use this space to share:

• Practical beekeeping advice

• Seasonal insights to help you prepare and care for your hive year-round

• Stories, highlights, and tips from real beekeepers across the community

• Occasional behind-the-scenes updates about PerfectBee’s tools, education, and mission

• Through our useful and enjoyable content, we’re excited about all the future opportunities to connect and learn from other beekeepers and people who share our passion

Let’s be honest! We might not know exactly where this will lead but that’s part of the fun of this.

Stay Connected

We’d love for you to subscribe now so you never miss an update, but even more so we really look forward to hearing and learning from you along the way.

Welcome to our small and special corner of Substack, built for hobbyist beekeepers and beyond. Thanks for being here, subscribe below now.