DIY HONEY BEE HIVE OBSERVATION DOME WITH IN HIVE FEEDER

This instructable tells you how to build your own Honey Bee Observation Dome.

What goes on inside a honey bee hive? What is happening with all those bees unsupervised in the dark? The human curiosity which drives us to watch so called “reality TV” live footage of a group of people living together, also drives bee keepers. Bee keepers need to inspect their hives regularly so that any pests can be evicted from the bee hive. There are the bad behaviour residents such as the Wax Moth, Small Hive Beetle and its big brother the Large Hive Beetle. Not to mention some very undesirable murderous bee blood sucking mites, like Varroa Destructor.

Bees Like it Hot

Honey bees love the heat and will maintain an internal hive temperature of about 32 degrees Celsius. Bee keepers are very careful when opening the hive not to let the hive get too cold, particularly in winter, otherwise the bees may exhaust their food reserves by trying to reheat the hive and subsequently die of starvation.

Some European researchers studying bees during winter conditions came up with the idea of using a blow moulded clear plastic dome which fitted exactly on top of the beehive box; simply lift off the wooden hive roof and there are the bees warm and snug under the dome. A commercial version is available in the USA. However, after examining one, I considered the commercial dome has three major disadvantages. The first disadvantage is that the optics were distorted by the moulding process, so you don’t get an undistorted view. The second is that you cannot use a top feeder. The third is due to the high international freight cost, as the commercial blown dome is bulky and therefore not an affordable option here in Australia. 

This observation dome has the advantages of

Excellent optics, accepts a top feeder, packs flat, directs condensate to the side walls only and the big plus is that you and I can make it; resulting in happy bees.

Supplies

MATERIALS

. 1 x Clear Polycarbonate Sheet 1.5mm (1/16 inch) thick

The sheet size depends on if you use an 8 or 10 frame Langsroth (or Flow hive)

Required Polycarbonate sheet size is:-

o  8-frame use 1.5mm x 50* x w50cm

o  10-frame use 1.5mm x 50* x w60 cm

*measure the internal length of your brood box this dimension should be a tight fit.

·      4 x 4mm diameter x 25mm stainless steel or brass wood screws

·      1 x Brood box (Full depth if using the top feeder).

If you want to build the feeder option you will also need.

·      1 x 50mm (2 inch) diameter pool pipe coupling

·      1 x 50mm (2 inch) diameter flange nut.

TOOLS

·      Cordless drill

·      5mm (3/16 inch) drill bit

·      Sheet metal shears

·      (for feeder option only) 50mm (2 inch) Hole saw.

Step 1: Marking Out

Tip: Do not remove the protective paper from your clear polycarbonate sheet until the dome is fully fitted.

Measure the inside length and width dimensions of your brood box.

Mine is an 8-frame Flow Brood box which is 46.5cm by 31.5cm

Ideally the dome sheet width should not be more than the perimeter of a half circle.

This means the maximum dome sheet width will be

Ds = 0.5 x (w x 22/7)

For my 8-frame brood box

Ds = 0.5 x (31.5 x 22/7) = 49.5

You can make a shallower dome if you prefer.

But keep in mind that

The minimum sheet width should not be less than 0.85 of the value of Ds (43 cm) or the dome arch will be insufficient for the condensation to run to the sides.

Mark out your poly carbonate sheet

For 8 frame Flow Hive brood box I used 46.5 x 43 cm

Step 2: Cutting and Fitting the Dome

Make sure your corners are square.

Cut the sheet with some shears or tin snips.

Trial fit the sheet in the Brood box.

If it sticks or catches.

Sand the sheet sides until it fits snugly, but still get it in easily. Note no glue is used so the fit needs to be snug.

Step 3: Marking and Drilling the Holes

Mark the sheet on the long sides 9cm from each end and 1.5cm from the edge.

Now drill four holes (two on each side) 5mm in diameter.

These holes will be used to fix your dome and hold it in place.

NOW DECIDE

If you want to add a removable top feeder NOW IS THE TIME.

Drill with a hole saw a 50mm (2 inch) Diameter hole in the center of the sheet.

Step 4: Fitting the Dome

Position the dome sheet so the long edges are flush with the Brood box bottom side edges.

Fix in place with the four screws.

If using the top feeder next screw in the 50mm (2 inch) pool union and flange nut.

When all done.

Peel off the backing papers and your Observation Dome is ready to go.

Step 5: In the Bee Hive

Fit your completed Bee Observation Dome to your beehive.

You now have a working Bee Observation Dome.

You can start your own “Big Sister” Reality Bee Viewing.

If you chose the feeder option the feeder will plug into the pool pipe coupling.

When you remove the feeder use the hives wooden roof plug to block the hole,

All buzzy and snug. 😊

A NOTE ON CONDENSATION

Condensation in a beehive is not good, it leads to mould, disease and infestations of Small Hive Beetle. All this is not good for bees struggling to survive winter (Stabentheimer, Kovac, & Mandl, 2021). Many beekeepers make the mistake of adding insulation to counter condensation. This is not the best approach; the key is effective air circulation (Jarimi, Tapia Brito, & Riffat, 2020). The observation dome you have just made will help the bees improve the hive air circulation and direct condensation to the side walls (Sudarsan, Thompson, Kevin, & Eberl, 2012) of the brood box away from the hive frames.

This Hive Observation Dome not only allows you to see your bees, help your bees combat condensation and allows you to continue to feed them as required.

I wish you many hours of enjoyable hive viewing.

Lachlan 😊

References

Jarimi, H., Tapia Brito, E., & Riffat, S. (2020, August 7). A Review on Thermoregulation Techniques in Honey Bees’ (Apis Mellifera) Beehive Microclimate and Its Similarities to the Heating and Cooling Management in Buildings. Future Cities and the Environment, Art 7, 1-8.

Stabentheimer, A., Kovac, H., & Mandl, M. (2021, January 24). Coping with the cold and fighting the heat: thermal homeostasis. Journal of Comparative Physiology A.

Sudarsan, R., Thompson, C., Kevin, P., & Eberl, H. (2012). Flow currents and ventilation in Langstroth beehives due to brood thermoregulation efforts of honeybees. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 192, 168-193.