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Why Apimaye Beehives are Better Than Wooden Bee Boxes

Betsy with an Apimaye beehive
Betsy with an Apimaye beehive

Why are Apimaye beehives better than wooden bee boxes?


  • They are highly insulated.

  • Easier to maintain.

  • Superior ventilation.


We will cover these advantages of the Apimaye Bee Hive.


Now that Autumn is here, and the high desert of Arizona is starting to get very cold, we had to check on our Apimaye beehives.


These honeybees came from different bee removals we did in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV. They are calm now that the cold weather has arrived but feisty in the summer.


When the sun is out warming up the beehives, the bees are very active, and they are out and about looking for whatever resources they can find. Although it is slim pickings, they will still need to continue to look.


The hives are both packed with resources, lots of capped honey.


They have enough food to take them through the winter. But along the way will put out robber buckets for them and sugar water.


We love to feed them outdoors, where they create a bee tornado of activity. They will burn through whatever we put out there for them. It's incredible how fast the bees can empty a gallon of sugar water.


So for us, it's easier just to set up sugar-water feeders outside the hives when it's warm out and see all the different bees from the hives out there.

There is rarely ever any fighting or destructive behavior at the feeders. They all seem to share and play nice with each other. Now back to the hives.

Amazing Apimaye beehives in the desert
Amazing Apimaye beehives in the desert

The two-story Apimaye hive is a monster.

These bees have that thing filled with comb and honey. We could no longer take the top off it because they had made a comb from the top of the box. We wrote a review about these Apimaye beehive boxes here.


It is sealed up and propolized so that we will leave it alone. The bees worked hard to keep us out, and we will comply with their wishes. 


The one-story Apimaye is doing well, but they're better off than the other hive.


They had a battle with wax moths in the summer, but they have bounced back, and now that it's so cold, the moths are pretty much dead now. So hopefully, we won't see those wax moths until next summer. But next year we will be better prepared for them.

Pete showing off the brood pattern in the Apimaye hive.
Pete showing off the brood pattern in the Apimaye hive.

We have been delighted with our Apimaye hives and discussed them before when we reviewed them.


If we had the money only to have Apimaye hives, we would certainly do that. We've been that pleased with them. Those who have these beehive boxes all feel the same way about them.


We have hives in three of the seven-frame nuc boxes with a super on two. We know and have spoken with others who own these same hives and never heard one complaint about them. 


Betsy with an Apimaye hive in the high desert of Arizona
Betsy with an Apimaye hive in the high desert of Arizona

We hoped these hive boxes would have protected better from the wax moths, but that was unrealistic for us even to think.


However, it is so great for the bees that we felt anything is possible for an Apimaye beehive box, including keeping all the pests at bay.

But in the end, the bees are pleased in their Apimaye hive box, and we feel that they will make it through the winter problem free.


They only need to bring down the price for beekeepers to make these a viable product for us all through the winter. But along the way will put out robber buckets for them and sugar water.


We love to feed them outdoors, where they create a bee tornado of activity.


They will burn through whatever we put out there for them. It's incredible how fast they can empty a gallon of sugar water. For us, it's easier just to set up sugar-water feeders outside the hives when it's warm out and see all the different bees from the hives out there.


There is rarely ever any fighting or destructive behavior at the feeders. They all seem to share and play nice with each other. Now back to the hives. 


The beautiful Apimaye beehive
The beautiful Apimaye beehive

Since we are in the Arizona high desert, we need beehives that are well insulated, and that's where the Apimaye shines.


We are running into the low 20s some nights and want to ensure our bees are comfortable in their homes. They are and have survived every winter so far!




Betsy and Pete

Las Vegas, Nevada



About Us: The Authors

Betsy and Pete from Vegas Bees
Betsy and Pete from Vegas Bees

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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