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POLYSTYREnE / TIMBER / CORREx!

14/11/2017

There are many choices and modifications in beekeeping, which might remind one of the Irish proverb - Ní lia duine ná barúil (There are as many opinions as there are people). One of pertinent interest for the cold winter months (and an interesting one that might overheat in the summer) is the usage of polystyrene hives in contrast to the previous timber supremacy. I currently have both; but intend to use polystyrene for brood boxes. What are the pros and cons other people find - The polys obviously are more insulated, whereas the timber can 'breathe' and change with the seasons. I've found water collecting in the corners of the frame runners of the polys. Also does anyone assemble correx (old election posters) nuc boxes, which is my current winter project. I hope to use these for swarm catches next summer. Interestingly these could overheat in hot weather! I'm including some links to videos of these correx creations being assembled. Does anyone have the plans for the boxes shown in the videos? Let's start the debate!

2 Comments

Tom Carr link

15/11/2017 18:30:21

Poly hives are unlikely to overheat in normal use in Ireland. If they are closed without adequate ventilation for transport, then they will overheat very quickly.....much more quickly than a wooden hive, wax will melt, stores will flow and goodbye colony.
Mini nucs.....Apideas and similar will over heat very quickly, they need to be kept in the shade/north side of a hedge or the occupants will abscond.
Condensation is often found in poly hives/nucs which have too much space for the colony, i.e. too much empty space which has to be heated. Bees consuming stores also create humidity. If empty space is eliminated and/or the inspection tray is at least partially withdrawn, the problem is usually resolved. Bees need moisture when rearing brood and consuming stores, high humidity is normal in a hive.
Correx is an excellent material for transport boxes, I would not be happy using it for any other purpose.
We find the best poly hives are made in Finland, they are expensive and many beekeepers may, quite rightly prefer poly hives from other manufacturers.

Gearóid Ó Fathaigh

16/11/2017 22:02:05

The correx idea is solely for swarm bait hives that can be tied up trees and monitored during swarm season - they'd need to be slightly larger I think than the transport ones in the video. There's a certain Polish company doing some nice poyhives too!

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