Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Langstroth
A vertically modular hive based on movable frames and on the bee-space principle. It is one of the most widespread and industrially standardised systems.
Origin
United States, 19th century
Geographical use
Worldwide
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Confirm the variant and measurements before declaring compatibility.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- multiplication
- transhumance
- pollination
Advantages
- Wide equipment availability
- Movable frames facilitate inspections
- Suitable for production and transhumance
- Many compatible accessories
Limitations
- Full bodies and supers can be heavy
- There are 8- and 10-frame variants and metric/imperial differences
Dimensions and notes
- Internal dimensions (cm): length 46.5, width 36.5, height 23.9
- External dimensions (cm): length 50.5, width 40.5
- Internal volume: 40.56 L
- The measurements of the deep brood body vary slightly between manufacturers and between metric and imperial standards.
Documented variants
- Langstroth 10-frame - deep body: 10 frames | 40.4 L | internal length 46.5, width 36.5, height 23.8
- Langstroth 8-frame - deep body: 8 frames | 34.97 L | internal length 47, width 31, height 24
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Dadant
A family of vertical hives with a large brood chamber and generally shallower supers. There is no single universal version.
Origin
Europe and the United States, 19th century
Geographical use
Europe and other regions
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Treat Dadant-Blatt and Dadant US as distinct variants in the technical sheet.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- professional operation
- stationary apiaries
Advantages
- Large brood chamber
- Good storage capacity
- Widely used in European professional beekeeping
Limitations
- Dadant-Blatt and Dadant US should not be treated as fully compatible
- Full elements can be heavy
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
- Dadant is a family of standards. Dadant-Blatt, Dadant US, and Modified Dadant should be presented as distinct variants.
Documented variants
- Dadant Jumbo / Modified Dadant (British reference)
- Dadant 12-frame - historical reference in the Lusitana table: 77.25 L | internal length 50, width 50, height 30.9
- Dadant 10-frame - historical reference in the Lusitana table: 66.44 L | internal length 50, width 43, height 30.9
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Lusitana
A system traditionally used in Portugal, made up of a brood chamber and supers or half-supers specific to this format.
Geographical use
Portugal
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Compatible only with components of the same standard, except when adapters are used.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- stationary apiaries
- transhumance
Advantages
- Strong presence in the Portuguese market
- Availability of materials and local know-how
- Suitable for Portuguese beekeeping practices
Limitations
- Low direct compatibility with other formats
- Measurements must be confirmed against a standard, technical drawing, or identified manufacturer
Dimensions and notes
- Internal dimensions (cm): length 38, width 38, height 31.3
- External dimensions (cm):
- Internal volume: 45.2 L
- Reference internal values. External dimensions depend on wood thickness and the manufacturer.
Documented variants
- Lusitanian brood body: 10 frames | 45.2 L | internal length 38, width 38, height 31.3
- Lusitana super: 8 frames | 23.83 L | internal length 38, width 38, height 16.5
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Portuguese reversible
A Portuguese system made up of similarly sized boxes, allowing the position of the modules to be exchanged during management.
Geographical use
Portugal
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Compatible with Reversible components. In Portuguese beekeeping practice, Lusitana supers are commonly used as half-supers in the Reversible system while keeping Reversible brood bodies.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- multiplication
- small and medium apiaries
Advantages
- Relatively light modules
- Flexibility in vertical management
- Well-known system in Portugal
Limitations
- Lower unit nest volume
- Incompatible with Lusitana, Langstroth, and Dadant without adaptation
Dimensions and notes
- Internal dimensions (cm): length [object Object], width [object Object], height 24
- External dimensions (cm): length 43, width 43, height 24
- Internal volume: [object Object] L
- With external dimensions of 43 × 43 × 24 cm and wood between 2.2 and 2.5 cm thick, the internal length and width vary between 38.0 and 38.6 cm. The useful internal height remains 24 cm. The estimated internal volume ranges from 34.66 to 35.76 litres.
Documented variants
- Reversible body: 10 frames | [object Object] L | internal length [object Object], width [object Object], height 24
- Lusitana super used as a half-super in the Reversible system: 8 frames | 23.83 L | internal length 38, width 38, height 16.5
Apis melliferaVertical natural combCurrentApis mellifera
Warré
A vertical hive made of small boxes, often managed with top bars and comb built by the bees.
Origin
France, early 20th century
Geographical use
Europe and natural beekeeping communities
Frame or comb system
top bars or proprietary frames
Do not assume compatibility with Langstroth.
Recommended uses
- small-scale beekeeping
- observation
- artisan production
Advantages
- Compact hive bodies
- Relatively simple construction
- Low-intervention approach
Limitations
- Inspection and sanitary control may be less practical without frames
- Lower commercial standardisation
Dimensions and notes
- Internal dimensions (cm): length 30, width 30, height 21
- External dimensions (cm):
- Internal volume: 18.9 L
- The classic model uses 8 top bars and not full frames.
Documented variants
- Classic Warré body: 18.9 L | internal length 30, width 30, height 21
Apis melliferaHorizontal framesCurrentApis mellifera
Layens
A horizontal hive with deep frames, without the need to lift supers during normal management.
Origin
France/Spain, 19th century
Geographical use
Spain, France, and other regions
Frame or comb system
deep movable frames
Proprietary system.
Recommended uses
- stationary apiaries
- honey production
- climates with pronounced winters
Advantages
- Management at the level of a single body
- Good reserves in deep frames
- Can reduce heavy lifting
Limitations
- Harvesting and expansion differ from vertical systems
- Less universal equipment
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Zander
A movable-frame modular system widely used in Germany.
Geographical use
Germany and Central Europe
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Proprietary system; variants exist.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- professional operation
Advantages
- Good regional equipment supply
- Modular management
- Suitable for professional beekeeping
Limitations
- Limited availability in Portugal
- Incompatibility with Iberian standards
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Deutsch Normalmaß
A standardised German frame-and-box format used in different hive configurations.
Geographical use
Germany and Central Europe
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Distinguish frame format from the external architecture of the hive.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- regional operation
Advantages
- Regional standardisation
- Availability of components in Central Europe
Limitations
- Limited availability in the Iberian Peninsula
- Not directly compatible with Zander or Langstroth
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Voirnot
A vertical hive with an almost square cross-section, designed to favour a compact brood nest.
Geographical use
France and French-speaking regions
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Proprietary system.
Recommended uses
- stationary apiaries
- honey production
Advantages
- Compact nest
- Good reputation in cold climates
Limitations
- Lower material availability
- Regional variants
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
British National
A movable-frame hive that is very common in the United Kingdom, with relatively wide outer boxes and frames with long lugs.
Geographical use
United Kingdom and Ireland
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Do not confuse it with Commercial or Smith.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- small- and medium-scale beekeeping
Advantages
- Wide availability in the United Kingdom
- Many regional accessories
- Well-known and documented management
Limitations
- Limited availability outside the United Kingdom
- Full hive bodies can be heavy
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm): length 46, width 46, height 22.5
- Internal volume: 35 L
- The 35 L volume corresponds to the National brood chamber; the super is indicated by the BBKA as about 18 L.
Documented variants
- National standard
- Deep National / 14 × 12
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
British Commercial
A British system with brood frames larger than National frames, intended for strong colonies.
Geographical use
United Kingdom
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Some external components may share dimensions with National, but the brood frames differ.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- professional operation
Advantages
- Large brood chamber
- Suitable for productive colonies
Limitations
- Regional equipment
- Potentially heavy
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm): length 46.5, width 46.5
- The source provides external length/width and frame size; external height varies with the construction.
Apis melliferaVertical modularCurrentApis mellifera
Smith
A compact British hive of simple construction, historically associated with Scottish beekeeping.
Geographical use
United Kingdom, especially Scotland
Frame or comb system
movable frames
Proprietary system.
Recommended uses
- honey production
- stationary apiaries
Advantages
- Relatively simple construction
- Compact format
Limitations
- Limited availability outside the region
- Reduced compatibility
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm): length 41.6, width 46.3
- According to the source, it can use National frames with adapted lugs.
Apis melliferaRear accessCurrentApis mellifera
AŽ
A hive often installed inside bee houses, inspected from the rear and organised around movable frames.
Geographical use
Slovenia and Central Europe
Frame or comb system
movable frames with rear access
Specialised system.
Recommended uses
- stationary apiaries
- apitourism
- honey production
Advantages
- Protected work inside a shelter
- Less vertical lifting of boxes
- Suitable for stationary apiaries
Limitations
- Not very suitable for conventional transhumance
- Requires specific infrastructure and learning
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaHorizontal framesCurrentApis mellifera
Langstroth horizontal
A horizontal hive that uses Langstroth-format frames arranged in a single long body.
Origin
Contemporary adaptation
Geographical use
Various regions
Frame or comb system
Langstroth frames
Compatibility depends on the exact frame depth.
Recommended uses
- stationary apiaries
- accessibility
- small scale
Advantages
- Avoids lifting heavy supers
- Can reuse Langstroth frames
- Sequential access to the nest
Limitations
- Occupies more horizontal space
- Thermal management and expansion require practice
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaHorizontal top-barCurrentApis mellifera
Kenyan Top-Bar Hive
A horizontal top-bar hive designed to produce movable comb without full frames.
Origin
East Africa / modern development
Geographical use
Africa and low-cost projects
Frame or comb system
top bars
Does not use conventional Langstroth frames.
Recommended uses
- small scale
- community projects
- honey and wax production
Advantages
- Can be built with local materials
- Does not require wax foundation sheets or a conventional extractor
- Waist-level management
Limitations
- Unframed combs are more fragile
- Lower compatibility with industrial equipment
- Requires care to keep combs straight
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm): length 91.4, width 40.7
- There is no universal dimension for KTBH; it should be presented as a range or as an identified design.
Documented variants
- Common range documented in British guides
Apis melliferaHorizontal top-barCurrentApis mellifera
Tanzanian Top-Bar Hive
A horizontal variant, usually with vertical side walls, that uses top bars and movable comb.
Frame or comb system
top bars
Dimensions vary by design.
Recommended uses
- small scale
- community projects
Advantages
- Simple construction
- Use of local materials
Limitations
- Combs are more likely to adhere to the walls than in trapezoidal versions
- Low standardisation
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaFixed combTraditionalApis mellifera
Log or cork hive
A fixed-comb hive made from a log, cork, or an equivalent cylindrical structure.
Origin
Traditional, multiple regions
Geographical use
Europe, Africa, America, and Asia
Frame or comb system
fixed comb
Without standardised components.
Recommended uses
- heritage
- demonstration
- traditional beekeeping
Advantages
- Local materials
- Cultural and heritage value
- Good landscape integration
Limitations
- Limited sanitary inspection
- Harvesting may destroy combs
- Makes rational management and traceability more difficult
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):
Apis melliferaFixed combHistoricalApis mellifera
Cesto tradicional
A traditional basket-shaped hive, usually made of straw or vegetable fibres, with fixed comb.
Geographical use
Historical use and demonstration
Frame or comb system
fixed comb
Not standardised.
Recommended uses
- museum work
- heritage education
Advantages
- Historical value
- Construction with local materials
Limitations
- Does not allow adequate comb inspection
- Incompatible with modern sanitary practices in many jurisdictions
Dimensions and notes
- External dimensions (cm):