How Long Do Beehives Last?

BEEKEEPERSTIPS.COM

We ask the question: How long do beehives last? This is not a straightforward question. We look at old beehives, new age beehives, and the biggest beehive ever found.

I have worked with beehives that have been in continuous use since the 1930s. These were made by Mann Lake bee equipment suppliers.

How Long Do Beehive Boxes Last?

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The dominant bees in this region are comprised of European honeybee races and are susceptible to a number of diseases that, without human assistance, will kill the bees in a year or two.

Europe and North America

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In Africa, bees have been recorded to actually remove bee silk from combs and reprocess them. The Cape Honeybee is completely genetically bizarre, and it is possible that there are beehives in Southern Africa that could have lived in cliffs continuously for thousands of years.

Africa

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Old Beehives

There is always a risk that a beehive that is from before the 1970’s could have been treated with arsenic of similar wood preservatives.

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New Age Beehives

As technology has progress we have been able to use new materials to make beehives. Plastic composite beehives are common around the world.

There is a record in Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia) from the 1950’s that records a most curious event. To set the scene let’s describe the Miombo woodlands of Zambia.

The Biggest Beehive Ever Found

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Swarms

All races of bees produce swarms. As beekeepers, we control these.

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ADVICE

The amount of time a beehive box will last will really depend on a few factors. How well you look after it. On the environment and the climate. Whether you have pests that make holes in your hive.

BEEKEEPERSTIPS.COM

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