Apiary
An apiary is a structure used to house honey bee colonies. An apiary usually consists of multiple hive boxes and frames, which are filled with comb that has been built by the bees themselves. Apiaries come in many forms, from small, backyard setups to large commercial enterprises. Beekeepers use their hives to produce honey, wax and other products harvested from the colony such as propolis and royal jelly. Apiaries also provide pollination services for crops and wild plants in an area; this is especially important since many species of wild bees have become endangered due to habitat destruction or pesticide use.
Apiculture (or beekeeping) itself dates back thousands of years and can be practiced with minimal equipment or near-zero cost in modern times thanks largely to advances in artificial hive construction methods over the centuries. From ancient Egyptians building clay pots filled with mud for their hives to today’s commercially produced plastic Langstroth boxes equipped with removable frames, humans have consistently sought ways to make it easier for them oversee their colonies without causing too much disruption or harm. Many types of top bar hives are also popular among hobbyists because they require less maintenance than traditional Langstroth style hives while still providing a safe home for bees and easy access for harvesting honey or inspecting colonies when necessary.
Beekeepers must attend regularly scheduled inspections throughout the year if they want healthy colonies; these inspections occur at different times depending on regional climate conditions but typically include spring builds where new combs are added as needed followed by summer harvests where excess comb is removed along with any surplus honey stored in supers above the brood nest (the area closest to queen). In late fall/early winter varroa mite treatments may be applied before final winterizing preparations take place including removing all supers so that only two brood chambers remain attached during cold months – this helps conserve energy consumption since less heat needs generated keep warm during freezing temperatures outside compared larger setup would require otherwise . Finally comes Spring again when cycle begins anew!