Beekeeping supplies encompass a range of equipment and tools essential for the care and management of bee colonies. These include:
Hive Components:
- Hive Bodies: Boxes where bees live, usually made of wood or polystyrene.
- Frames: Wooden or plastic structures within hive bodies where bees build comb and store honey.
Protective Gear:
- Bee Suits: Full-body suits with attached veils to protect beekeepers from stings.
- Gloves: Leather or latex gloves to shield hands from stings.
- Veils and Helmets: Mesh veils or helmets with attached veils to protect the head and face.
Tools for Hive Inspection:
- Smoker: Produces smoke to calm bees during inspections.
- Hive Tool: A multipurpose tool for prying apart hive components, scraping wax, etc.
- Bee Brush: Gently removes bees from frames for inspection.
Honey Extraction Equipment:
- Extractor: A device used to extract honey from frames.
- Uncapping Knife: Cuts wax caps from honeycomb for extraction.
Feeding and Medication:
- Feeding Supplies: Feeders for providing sugar syrup or pollen substitutes.
- Medications: Treatments for bee diseases or pests.
Queen Rearing Supplies:
- Queen Cups: Specialized cells for raising new queen bees.
- Grafting Tools: Used in the process of transferring larvae to queen cups.
Pest and Disease Man