This continuing story is about our experience with the Apimaye beehive during the past year.
We are beekeepers in the Las Vegas area, and being in the desert has unique challenges with bees.
We own three Apimaye hives and six honey supers for them. In the winter, temps can drop into the 30s. In summer, it can shoot up to 115!
The Apimaye thermo hives are well insulated, which suggests they are designed for people who live in desert areas like ourselves.
Our Apimaye hives had no problems getting through the winters of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Our Apimaye hives have all started slow.
The bees we saved from our bee removal service grew slower for us in the Apimaye beehive. We were surprised as this baby is a solid hive. Even the hive top cover has major weight to it.
This is a highly insulated cover to keep the hive protected from the sun. However, it wouldn't take long for the first Apimaye hive to explode in size. This article will shed light on the power of the Apimaye beehive.
Wooden hives
When you compare wooden hives to the Apimaye thermo bee hives, the Apimaye is the clear champion. They do everything the wood hives do, but better and more efficiently.
It is a lot of fun keeping them in the yard; they look pretty neat. The bees love them, and ultimately, they are the decision-makers.
Did we mention that you can use wooden or plastic frames in these? This is awesome, as we use an almost equal amount of these with our hives.
So they've all decided to stay and grow to be giant colonies in their Apimaye beehives. Once the summer hits, the colony will explode in numbers. Before you know it, you need to add supers.
We have two supers on each of our hives, with about 20,000 bees or more.
Our Apimaye bee hive is a game changer.
The next-generation bee hive or just hype?
The bees will make a lot of honey and become very protective of the hive. This situation is something to consider when planning where to put their bee hive. We had to move them once they got too large and no longer wanted us around their home.
These thermo hives have produced larger colonies for us, and they can use either wood or plastic frames! This was great for us as we used both styles. They spend less time trying to cool down the hive, and more time foraging, which stimulates colony growth.
This is not hype, this is the real results we have achieved. Unfortunately, this hive got so big they became pretty defensive with us.
Apimaye thermo bee hives and pests
Like a wooden beehive, the Apimaye has a screened bottom board. They can help with small hive beetle and varroa mites infestations.
They are not an end-all solution, but they can help a bit. You can get small hive beetle traps online and use them inside your Apimaye hive.
You don't have to use the screened bottom board, and we do not in the winter. However, closing the removable bottom tray will help keep the colony warm and the brood boxes toasty. In summer, we have it off, and it makes a sound ventilation system for the bees.
The ventilation system prevents overheating.
This intelligent design comes with a few choices. They have a full-inch circle, a queen excluder opening, and one inch opening with air holes. Open them all in the summer and the hive gets super ventilated.
When it is 100+ degrees in the desert, this hive shines over its competitors.
The bee entrance has a sliding entrance reducer. We love this feature as it helps the bees defend their hive and makes a perfect mouse guard.
In winter, we close it up, except one slot will remain open, as a smaller entrance will help keep the colony warm.
Enter the small hive beetle.
These pests need to be dealt with quickly, but you can be proactive by adding traps in your bee hives. Wax moths are another pest that wreaks havoc with the bees. In the Apimaye beehive, the wax moth larvae can't burrow into the plastic as they can in wooden hives.
They still have places to hide, but their damage is lessened.
Don't get too comfortable, as they can quickly destroy the colony. It would help if you were on the lookout for these pests all spring and summer.
Unfortunately, they are the beekeeper's nightmare; even the most bee-friendly hive can't remove these problems.
We love the Apimaye hive, which is perfect for our desert area.
You can get other equipment for them, like a queen excluder; their pollen trap is terrific for enjoying some fresh local pollen, the division uniting board for merging two hives, a top feeder, frame spacers, and extra plastic frames. Check their website for these handy add-ons.
The Apimaye pollen trap
We have to mention this feature as we enjoy the desert pollen we have here in Las Vegas. So many people claim that local pollen help with allergies. I'm not a doctor, but I know it helps alleviate my symptoms in the spring. If you look for local pollen in specialty stores, you will see this item can be expensive.
The Apimaye Thermo beehives are probably the most bee-friendly hives made today.
The only downside is the price.
Apimaye hives are quite expensive compared to the other Langstroth options. However, these are the way to go if you have the money. The Apimaye hive problems have been zero in our experiences. They have been amazing.
Especially here in Las Vegas, we love that they are made from UV-resistant plastic, the hive top cover latches to the hive, easy to use pollen trap, the solid queen excluder, the smooth sliding entrance reducer, and the division uniting board for when we merge hives.
In life, you get what you pay for. This couldn't be truer with the Apimaye beehive.
UPDATE March 23, 2023:
As we emerge from winter 2023, and head into spring, we are thrilled to see our Apimaye beehives flourishing.
With spring in full swing, the bees are busy collecting nectar and pollen, building their hive, and expanding their brood.
We are delighted to see our Apimaye beehives thriving and the bees doing well.
We can't recommend these hives enough, especially for beekeepers in hot and arid climates. They offer superior insulation, durability, and versatility, making them an excellent investment for anyone serious about beekeeping.
We look forward to continuing to observe the growth of our colonies throughout the spring and into the summer. Well done, Apimaye beehives and the honeybees that call it home!
UPDATE November 22, 2023:
Wow, what a year for our bees in their Apimaye Hives!
Winter is sneaking up on us, and the bees are spending more time in their hive; let's reflect on the spring and summer.
They grew, they swarmed, and grew some more! All the hives did amazing and we had a record honey harvest. They hauled in pollen and nectar all spring and summer.
They had filled their boxes so fast and ran out of room. We got the swarm in a new box and they are doing well. Now that it is getting chilly here in Las Vegas, the bees will be less active and enjoy a comfortable winter in their insulated Apimaye beehives. We will update you in the spring of 2024 and tell you how they did this winter.
UPDATE July 14, 2023:
Wow, what a spring and begining summer for our bees in their Apimaye Hives!
We are having a VERY HOT summer and the bees are expanding so fast. Look at this happy hive, doing so well and loading up with resources.
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
Our Commitment to Excellence
Education is an ongoing journey, especially in a dynamic field such as beekeeping. That's why we continually update our knowledge base, collaborate with other experts, and stay up to date with the latest advancements in bee control methods and beekeeping practices.
We also provide top-tier beekeeping supplies, offering everything a beekeeper needs, from beginners to experts.
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