DIY hive from extruded polystyrene foam. Polystyrene foam hives: features, pros and cons, drawings. Increasing the service life of hives

Most beekeepers traditionally agree that wood is the best material for making hives, since it can create living conditions for insects that are closest to the natural environment. But the emergence of new materials and assembly technologies casts serious doubt on the irrefutability of this statement.

The existing experience in using polystyrene foam boards has shown that bees adapt well to such hives, and the material can successfully solve some of the problems that arise when keeping honey insects in wooden structures. At the same time, to complete the work you will not need large financial investments or the use of special tools.

Most criticisms of polystyrene foam bee hives stem from ignorance of the technical characteristics of the materials used. People often confuse extruded EPP with extruded EPS. Outwardly, they are very similar, but the surface layer of the first allows moisture to pass into the material, while the second is completely sealed, which is why it is not destroyed by freezing of the water accumulated in it.

The main advantages and disadvantages of polystyrene foam hives

Extruded polystyrene foam (EPS) is a lightweight, easy-to-process and environmentally friendly material. It is characterized by excellent thermal insulation properties, minimal vapor permeability and high moisture resistance. This type of foam is durable, does not attract rodents, and does not harbor bacteria or fungal spores. The density of polystyrene foam allows it to withstand significant mechanical loads.

The main advantages of EPS in the manufacture of beehives are determined by its technical and operational characteristics, among which it should be noted:

• the ability to quickly manufacture a structure without the use of special tools;
• simple repair and replacement of individual elements;
• the material is not susceptible to fungal formations and the spread of mold;
• providing excellent protection from cold in winter and from overheating in summer;
• maintaining an optimal microclimate inside the hive, conducive to the rapid development of the family;
• light weight of the structure, facilitating its mobile use;
• good ventilation of the internal space.

Despite the large number of positive factors, this material also has a lot of disadvantages. These include:

• the inability to absorb water condensate settling on the inner walls, which gradually rolls to the bottom;
• less strength than that of wooden structures;
• fixed size of slabs, cutting of which leads to a large amount of unused scraps;
• difficult to clean from propolis, which is removed from the surface along with foam particles;
• if the joints are not tightly fitted, the bees can gnaw through the wall to construct a new entrance;
• the small weight of the hive requires additional weighting or securing it from wind loads.

And yet, despite the existing shortcomings, a bee hive made of plywood and foam plastic has a right to exist and for some beekeepers it can be the best design.

Required materials and tools

To make a hive from EPS, you will need to purchase and prepare it for work;

• the required number of polystyrene foam boards 50 mm thick;
• special glue for installing polyurethane foam and a container of polyurethane foam;
• mesh for ventilation hole;
• two wooden planks 20x15 mm;
• plastic corner 15x15 mm;
• drawing paper, ruler and pencil;
• stationery knife with spare blades;
• metal ruler no less than 500 mm;
• flat and Phillips screwdrivers;
• medium grit sandpaper.

The exact number of foam boards can only be determined after sketches and drawings of the hive have been completed. From these, the dimensions of the elements that make up the structure will become known, based on which it will be possible to determine the amount of EPS for a standard slab size of 1200x600 mm.

Making a hive with your own hands

Work should begin by making drawings of a polystyrene foam hive with your own hands. Its presence allows you to use materials with the highest possible efficiency and reduce the amount of unused residues to a minimum. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to develop the design yourself - you just need to use the materials already published below.

Individual parts and elements

The do-it-yourself foam plastic hive body structure consists of 4 side walls, a bottom and a removable top cover. The optimal thickness of the enclosing walls is 50 mm. This size will provide effective insulation, good rigidity, strength, and at the same time the hive will remain light.

Apply all the necessary marks to the surface of the polystyrene plate in accordance with the drawing. Cutting the material is carried out using a metal ruler and a thin stationery knife, which must be held strictly vertically. When cutting, leave a margin of 2-3 mm at the edge, which will allow you to subsequently make an accurate fit of the parts and ensure ideal joint tightness.

The cover can be made of polystyrene foam, plywood, boards or metal profiles. The main condition is that the lid is not heavier than the housing structure. Otherwise, the hive will be extremely unstable and prone to tipping over.

Assembly of the structure

Manufacturing technology requires that the ends of the cut parts should be even and smooth. This is achieved by using sandpaper stretched over a flat wooden block. After processing is completed, folded supports are installed on the side walls, on which frames will be installed during operation of the hive.

The structure is assembled in the following order:

1. Apply glue to the edges of the prepared elements;
2. connect adjacent parts of the body to each other and wait until the fixing process is completed after the glue has dried;
3. remove any adhesive stains that have formed;
4. to increase strength, additionally secure the elements together using wood screws, placing them at a distance of 10-12 cm from each other and screwing to a depth of 4-6 mm;
5. on the outer side of the back and front walls, make indentations with a knife and glue into them handles from pieces of penoplex or other material of similar density;
6. leave the finished product under a canopy to dry for 24 hours.

A day after assembling the hive, you need to grind the walls and joints using sandpaper. The purpose of this operation is to align the corners and joints. If after grinding in there are cracks and leaks, seal them with polyurethane foam; after drying, all drips must be cut off.

The outer surfaces of the hive must be painted. The optimal material for this would be façade water-based paint.

It is non-toxic, almost odorless and resists moisture and temperature changes well. Thanks to the presence of a protective paint layer, the possible service life of a homemade bee house will increase significantly.

Place a ventilation mesh in the bottom with a mesh size of no more than 3.5 mm. It can be made of aluminum, brass or plastic. An important condition is sufficient rigidity. Insert the frames and place the lid on top. The polystyrene foam hive is ready! For more information on how to make a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands, you can watch the video at the end of the material.

Some nuances when using

Due to the fact that the inner walls of the polystyrene foam hive do not absorb moisture, the process of thermoregulation occurs differently than in wooden structures. Therefore, instead of the usual canvas for beekeeping, plastic film is used here.

To ensure a comfortable air-temperature regime for bees, the hole in the bottom is closed in the spring, and the entrance is open 4-5 cm. In the cold season, on the contrary, the lower ventilation hole is open and the entrance is completely closed.

In this case, wet condensation from the bees’ breath settles on the walls and flows down to the open hole. In warm summer weather, the internal space is ventilated through the entrance and the lower mesh, and the upper hole is closed until honey collection begins.

To stabilize a light hive in an apiary in windy weather, bricks or other sufficient weight should be placed on top of the lid. In this case, the wind will not be able to disturb the established position.

Video on the topic

Each beekeeper will improve his apiary over time, select a modern design, material for the bees’ home, such as polystyrene foam hives. The material used is thermally conductive and lightweight. Despite the fact that such designs have been popular for a long time, not every beekeeper can make them with their own hands. Conservatives prefer to use wooden hives, which are considered natural. All materials are not ideal; each has its own pros and cons that must be taken into account during operation.

Advantages of polystyrene foam hives

1. This material makes a quiet, durable, clean house.
2. Beehives made from polystyrene foam are protected from overheating in summer and from cold in winter.
3. The cases can be made identical and constantly swapped.
4. Wooden hives have a large number of allowances; polystyrene foam hives do not have this problem.
5. Resistant to moisture, do not begin to crack; problems such as chips, knots, and cracks that prevent insects from developing are not typical for this home.
6. Durable and easy to use.
7. Beehives made from polystyrene foam have a lightweight, collapsible design.
8. Such a home is a reliable protection for bees from cold and windy weather.
9. Please note that the polystyrene material does not rot, so insects will always have a stable microclimate in their nests, as well as thermal water.
10. It will not be difficult for a beekeeper to make, all the parts can be changed, it is easy to work with, and all beekeeping methods can be implemented.

Also, the advantages of this design include the fact that it is easy to do it yourself, repair it, the manufacturing and drawing are quite simple, it is an economical option.

Features of polystyrene foam hives

The walls of the body are smooth, they are white, and do not require additional insulation with canvases or pillows. Beekeepers especially advise using polystyrene foam hives in the hot season, when bees pay a lot of money. In it, the entrance opens wide, so air enters the entire home, making it easy for the bees to breathe in every street.

For cold and humid climates, it is mandatory to manufacture special bottoms, with the help of which the taphole barriers can be adjusted.

In modern beekeeping, rags, cotton wool, and homemade wooden blocks are not used as before to reduce the entrances; they are difficult to use; birds can pull out all the cotton wool.

Use of polystyrene foam hives in spring

In such a home, bees can fully develop. Despite the fact that the walls are thick, they can transmit enough sunlight that insects need. Thus, the bees can fully maintain the required amount of temperature in order for the brood to develop.

The advantage of such hives is their low thermal conductivity, so bees can spend a minimal amount of energy; in a wooden hive they will spend much more. An apiary is productive when heat losses are reduced and less feed and bee energy are consumed.

Disadvantages of polystyrene foam hives

1. Internal seam housings are not strong.
2. It is difficult to clean the cases from propolis. In wooden hives you can carry out disinfection using a blowtorch, but this cannot be done here. Special chemicals are required that can harm bees and damage polystyrene foam hives. Some beekeepers wash their hives with water and use alkaline products - sunflower tops ash.
3. The housing cannot absorb water; it ends up at the bottom of the hive.
4. If we compare them with wooden buildings, polystyrene foam hives affect the activity of bees, they begin to eat a large amount of food. When a colony is strong, it requires up to 25 kg of honey. To do this, you need to increase ventilation, this way you can get rid of high humidity, reduce the nesting temperature so that all this does not disturb the bees and they spend less food.
5. The hive is suitable for weak families and layers.
6. Due to the fact that the entrances are not regulated, bee theft occurs, the microclimate is disrupted in cold weather, and rodents can enter.

Transportation and wintering of polystyrene foam hives

Beehives made from polystyrene foam are easy to transport to places where there is a lot of bribes. But the disadvantage is that they are difficult to fasten; for this you can only use special belts. To achieve stability of the body, you need to use bricks to press it down and protect it from being blown away by the wind.

Wintering in polystyrene foam hives is best done in the air, so spring migration is early. Insects can increase their strength and collect the required amount of honey. There is no need to use special pillows or insulation.

Do-it-yourself selection of materials and tools for a polystyrene foam hive

Polystyrene foam hive

To make your own beehive you will need materials such as a pencil or felt-tip pen, screws, glue, a stationery knife, a metal meter ruler, and a screwdriver. In the event that a family of bees heavily covers their nests with propolis, you need to purchase special corners made from plastic; they are used for finishing work. To begin with, they are glued into the folds so that when the beekeeper begins to remove the frame, the material will not be painted over.

It is very important to do everything carefully in this case, because polystyrene foam is distinguished by its fragility. Making a hive with your own hands is not difficult if you have all the tools at hand. The stationery knife must be sharp. Self-tapping screws will be needed in length - five-centimeter e and seven-centimeter e.

A special mesh for ventilation must be placed in the bottom; it is important that it is strong and corresponds to mesh sizes of no more than 3.5 mm. An excellent option would be an aluminum mesh; it is often used for car tuning.

Technique for making a polystyrene foam hive with your own hands

1. To make a hive from polystyrene foam with your own hands, you need to use a drawing to mark everything, for this you will need a felt-tip pen and a ruler.
2. Take a knife and run it along the marked line, maintaining a right angle, several times until the slab is completely cut through. This is how the necessary blank material is prepared.
3. Lubricate the surfaces that you will glue with glue, squeeze them tightly, using self-tapping screws to fasten them, taking into account that this must be done at a distance of 10 cm.

It’s not difficult to make a beehive bed with your own hands, but you definitely need to use a drawing for this, measure everything as accurately as possible, and take into account flat and right angles. If there is a small gap left between the housing walls, light may begin to penetrate, the bees will begin to chew a hole or create another entrance. Manufacturing must be precise and accurate.

In the diagram you can see a hive made of polystyrene foam.

Below are detailed drawings that must be taken into account when making beehives from polystyrene foam.

Characteristics of Finnish polystyrene foam hives

Finnish bee hives have long been popular because they have such advantages as:

1. Lightness, they weigh no more than 10 kg, and wood 40 kg, nothing interferes with full transportation.
2. Finnish hives are warm, they can be used at 50 degrees below zero and they will protect the bees from the heat.
3. Moisture resistant, do not rot, cracks are not typical for them.
4. Polystyrene foam hives are durable.
5. Increased ventilation, when the main bribe occurs, the nectar quickly dries due to proper ventilation.
6. Hives made of polystyrene foam are stable and reliable. Their design is collapsible, so you can quickly get rid of damaged parts; they can be transported without problems.
7. Environmentally friendly.

A Finnish hive lounger must have the following elements:

1. Sturdy housing, equipped with yellow strips, all housings are the same length and width, just different heights. Any frame is suitable for different cases. You can mix the frame by 10. You can reach 8 frames.
2. With the help of yellow strips, polystyrene foam hives maintain hygiene; the bodies are protected from excess propolis.
3. A special aluminum mesh is placed at the bottom. Also, the bottom consists of a tap hole, a square ventilation hole, and a landing board. The mesh is protection against various insects, pests, and rodents. Using a mesh you can get rid of excess moisture.
4. The lid provides an additional amount of ventilation; it is a small tunnel. When the temperature is more than 28 degrees, you need to turn it over.
5. The Finnish beehive bed must be equipped with a special dividing grid, which will prevent the queen from getting into the housing where the honey is located. You can see such a grid in detail in the figure: Figure. “Features of the anti-swarm system in the Finnish hive”
6. In the upper part of the hive body, the bed should have a grid for propolis, so it can be easily removed and cleaned.

Finnish beehives made of polystyrene foam

Experienced beekeepers say that Finnish hives are a modern, versatile, practical and convenient design; the hive’s shape and light weight are especially attractive.

Almost every beekeeper strives to improve his beekeeping. He chooses new evidence for them to live on. They are studying what material can be used to make beehives with their own hands. One of these materials is polystyrene foam. It is quite lightweight and has thermal conductivity properties.

Such material has been used for a long time, but not everyone risks turning it into evidence on their own. All because there is not enough knowledge. To do this, you need to read special literature and watch the video.

However, there are those who prefer to house families in wooden evidence, considering them more reliable. But each material has its own disadvantages and advantages. In this article we will try to understand them regarding polystyrene foam. We’ll also see how to make evidence with your own hands.

Advantages of polystyrene foam hives

This material is often used to build houses; they turn out to be quiet and durable, and, not least important, clean. What are the advantages of polystyrene foam hives:

• The cases can be identical, which allows them to be easily swapped.
• Beehives made of polystyrene foam have no allowances.
• The material is quite resistant to moisture and is not susceptible to problems such as cracking, splits, knots and snags. Such damage can interfere with the normal functioning of bees.
• They are durable and easy to use.
• Very easy to understand.
• Reliably protects families from various adverse weather conditions.
• It does not succumb to rotting processes, which allows you to maintain the required climate in evidence. It is distinguished by its thermal conductivity.
• Easily repaired if damaged.
• Is economical.

Working with polystyrene foam is very simple; all parts of evidence made from this material are replaceable.

An undoubted advantage is the fact that hives can be easily made from this material with your own hands. Simple drawings are available.

What is the feature

The sides of the case have a smooth surface. Attracts a beautiful white color. Such hives do not require additional insulation, such as pillows.

Most beekeepers recommend using polystyrene foam evidence in the summer, when pollen is actively collected. The entrance in such a hive is quite wide open, which allows air to penetrate inside. In this case, the bees do not feel hot, and they breathe freely in any opening.

During the winter period, or in a humid climate, special bottoms are created that help to establish taphole barriers.

The current apiary does not use various rags, cotton wool or small hand-made blocks to reduce the entrances. They are not practical and difficult to use.

What are the disadvantages of polystyrene foam hives?

In addition to a wide range of advantages, polystyrene foam hives have a number of disadvantages:

• The folded housings are not strong enough inside.
• The body is difficult to clean from propolis residues.
• A blowtorch is contraindicated, which significantly complicates disinfection, unlike wooden hives.
• For disinfection, it is necessary to use products with a chemical composition that can harm the bee family and damage the hive itself. Therefore, few beekeepers resort to alkaline agents, for example, ash from sunflower tops.
• The material does not have the property of absorbing water, for this reason it accumulates at the bottom of the evidence.

It is not yet fully understood, but bees kept in a polystyrene hive become more voracious. A strong family in a new home will need about 25 kg of honey. This behavior can be prevented through ventilation. Due to this, the humidity decreases and the nesting temperature drops, the bees stop worrying and eat large amounts of food.

• Due to the fact that there is no way to regulate the entrance, thieves, for example, small rodents, can get to the bees. Also, during the cold period, the microclimate is disrupted.

How to choose material for building a hive

To make a hive with your own hands, you should acquire the following tools and materials:

• A simple pencil (you can use felt-tip pens).
• Self-tapping screws (15 cm and 17 cm).
• PVA glue.
• Small stationery knife.
• Screwdriver Set.
• Ruler, 1 m long.

If the bee family heavily soils the nests with propolis, then you need to buy the necessary corners. They are made of plastic and are used in finishing work.

Due to the fragility of polystyrene foam, all manipulations must be carried out very carefully. Making a hive with your own hands is not a difficult job, the main thing is that all the equipment and materials are at hand.

During manufacture, an appropriate mesh is placed at the bottom of the evidence, which will provide ventilation. The main rule is its strength. The cells in the grid fluctuate around 3.5 mm. Aluminum mesh, which is used for tuning vehicles, is perfect for this purpose.

Technical aspects of constructing a hive with your own hands from polystyrene foam

Before making evidence from polystyrene foam, a drawing is made with clear markings.

The surface of the material is carefully lubricated with glue. After which the parts are thoroughly compressed. Fastening is carried out using self-tapping screws. Don't forget to indent 10 cm.

In fact, making a hive with your own hands is quite simple. In this case, you must strictly follow the dimensions of the drawing. Everything should be measured very clearly, taking into account the straightness and flatness of the corners. If even a tiny gap appears between the case walls, this will lead to light entering there. Having noticed it, the bees will actively gnaw through the gap, and thus a new entrance will appear. Therefore, everything needs to be very accurately measured, cut and fastened.

How to make a hive can be seen in the video:

Or on video.

Scheme. Polystyrene foam hive

Also, you need to take a closer look at the drawings, which are drawn out in detail, indicating the dimensions. They should definitely be studied and taken into account when building a polystyrene foam hive.

You can see what hives made of polystyrene foam look like in the video.

How do bees live in a polystyrene hive?

A unique feature is that it is in the polystyrene foam that bees swarm less.

Those beekeepers who are all for environmentally friendly materials believe that bees are more comfortable living in a wooden cage. But in fact, this is a fallacy.

Expanded polystyrene can be safely considered a worthy replacement for wood. The material can solve many of the problems that one has to face when having hives made of wood. Bees, especially honey bees, very easily adapt to a house made of such material, and I feel even better in some ways, this is expressed in:

• Bees leave polystyrene foam hives less often than wooden ones and swarm less.
• In polystyrene foam hives, bees developed more quickly, and this, in turn, indicates that they are stronger during the period of active honey collection.
• Due to the high thermal insulation of the material, the climate inside remains stable, which is why the volume of the brood nest increases. In a hive made of polystyrene foam, the queen behaves actively and begins to work earlier. Work is carried out from the last frame, and not from the usual middle of the nest. The result of such work is usually better than that of others.
• A bee colony lives wonderfully in a polystyrene foam hive during the hot summer season, as it is well ventilated. Fresh air reaches the bees.

Bees in such a hive become more active, so they will need more feeding.

How to transplant bees from a wooden hive to a polystyrene foam hive can be seen in the video.

Winter period in polystyrene foam hives. Can they be transported?

Evidence that was made from polystyrene foam is quite easily transported to places where a lot of bribes can be received. But a significant disadvantage is the difficulty of fastening. For such purposes, special belts are purchased. To avoid wind shifting, ordinary bricks are used as pressure. With them the body is more stable.

For wintering, it is recommended to leave polystyrene foam hives outside. Because the spring flight will begin quite early. In such houses, the bees quickly gain strength, and I collect the amount of honey they need. For insulation, you will not need various insulation materials and pillows. The video describes wintering in such hives.

What beekeepers say about polystyrene foam hives

At this time, most beekeepers have very mixed opinions about polystyrene foam hives.

Many people think that it is very difficult to make, since the foam tends to crumble. When cleaning the housings, polystyrene foam is subjected to destruction, crumbling into grains. At the same time, the products begin to lose their healing qualities.

Also, hives made of such material can be worn out quickly. Then the gaps must be closed with propolis. In addition, polystyrene foam is attractive to various small rodents, who chew it with pleasure and easily seep into the bee house. You can convince yourself whether bees gnaw such hives by watching the video.

You can’t do without a net on the bottom, otherwise the sunbed will become damp and covered with mold. Food in such a hive quickly deteriorates, which is destructive for the bees.

Positive feedback includes the fact that the polystyrene foam hive holds the temperature well and is stable.

Evidence made from such material is fragile and must be constantly monitored in case of shock.

Beekeepers who prefer everything natural believe that a wooden hive is best suited for keeping bees. After all, they are accustomed to living and developing in tree hollows. This material is quite durable and is better suited for collecting honey.

There have also been complaints about light leaking into the polystyrene foam hive. It cannot be painted, as the material is hypersensitive to solvents. It was also discovered that the small moth manages to make a move, but there is no way to disinfect it with a burner.

Many beekeepers insist that evidence made from polystyrene foam is warm and moisture-resistant. Others, on the contrary, insist on excessive dampness and mold.

Judging by the reviews, the conclusion suggests itself that making beehives from polystyrene foam should be done very carefully, strictly follow the drawings and take into account any nuances. If you do not adhere to them, unpleasant consequences will appear in the near future. The location of the apiary of such hives and climatic conditions also matter.

For example, in Europe hives made of polystyrene foam are highly valued. Beekeepers insist on their strength, since the material is quite dense in nature. There they completely abandoned wooden hives, and for a long time. Europeans believe that they have a lot of shortcomings.

If a beekeeper does not have the opportunity or desire to buy ready-made hives, then you can make an exclusive home for bees yourself. This will help with available tools, inexpensive materials, a little patience and imagination. The result is a beautiful apiary filled with homemade hives. All beekeepers work according to their own methods, so they give preference to different hives and methods of maintaining their own apiary. Many people prefer to build a hive from polystyrene foam with their own hands. To make a homemade hive, you will need special drawings.

Beehives made of polystyrene foam are a convenient option, both in the manufacturing process and in use. Making it yourself is very simple. You will need a small amount of time, as well as minimal financial investment. Polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene is sold at any building materials store. To make it you will need appropriate drawings, screws, glue, and a knife. According to the drawing, the beekeeper marks the blanks, then cuts them out with a knife, glues them and fastens them with a self-tapping screw.

Advantages and disadvantages of the design

Expanded polystyrene is a practical and convenient material that is easy to work with. It is famous for its high thermal insulation performance. In addition, it has a low cost and is available for repair work. It is highly resistant to steam and moisture and does not crack. This material does not rot, so such a hive will be an excellent house for insects. The main advantage is that it is easy to do it yourself!

As for the disadvantages of a hive made of polystyrene foam, it is not as high in strength as noted in wooden structures. It is important to remember that bees prefer to taste material.

Polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam

Many inexperienced beekeepers confuse materials such as polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam, thinking that they are the same thing. However, this opinion is erroneous, since these are different materials. If you are going to make a hive with your own hands, then you should know what the differences are.

Foam differences:

• the material is able to absorb steam and moisture;
• the price of polystyrene foam is much lower;
• its structure is heterogeneous, filled with granules;
• there is a low density.

Polystyrene foam is a budget-friendly and good raw material from which houses for insects are made. This material greatly simplifies the work of the beekeeper, helping to make keeping bees more convenient and comfortable.

Most often, these designs are produced in a square shape. They have appropriate dimensions - 435 mm by 230 mm, equipped with a durable lid, feeder and bottom. As for their weight, they are very light. If you do not take into account the frames, their weight will be about fourteen kilograms. To create it, you will need a special protective form, as well as a special heating device (electric or gas).

Such devices are necessary in order to process the material with steam. As a result, it will become flexible and soft. The foam is placed under a special press to obtain the desired shape. Then the sheets are painted to provide a protective shell from the negative influences of the external environment. The main advantage of this material over wood is the preservation of heat in winter, as well as the necessary coolness in hot weather. Given these advantages, most modern beekeepers prefer just such designs.

Construction of hives

Do-it-yourself polystyrene foam hives are very easy and quick to make. This material is sold in the form of slabs. During the work process, a screwdriver, glue, ruler and other tools may be useful.

It is important! If your bees constantly fill the hive with propolis, you should have special corners that have the following dimensions - 15 by 15 millimeters.

Such corners cling to the folds, not forgetting the ventilation mesh located on the bottom. The beekeeper has the right to independently select a mesh, but it is better to take a metal one, as it has high strength. The most suitable option would be an aluminum car mesh.

A hive made from polystyrene foam is much easier to create with your own hands. Making a hive from wood is more difficult, so you should pay attention to this option. According to the markings in the drawing, preparatory work is done with all the parts and the base. They are cut out with a stationery knife. To connect all the elements of the body, durable glue is used, then the structure is pressed using self-tapping screws.

Subtleties of manufacturing

The screws are placed at a distance of ten centimeters. It is very important to take the correct measurements so that everything works out. Please note that polystyrene foam structures should not contain cracks or gaps, even the smallest ones! Otherwise, the optimal microclimate in the bee houses will be disrupted. Some bees perceive these cracks as an additional entrance.

It is important! The main difference between polystyrene is that it is quite fragile. Therefore, they work with it very carefully.