Bee tree

Bee tree

A bee tree is a tree in which a colony of honey bees makes its home. A colony of bees may live in a bee tree for many years. Most bee trees have a large inner hollow, often with an upper and lower entrance.

Colonies in trees have fixed comb, so inspection and management is impossible, as is most harvesting without destroying the colony. A beekeeper can perform a cut-out on a gum hive. The trunk is cut open to expose the cavity, and the comb is carefully removed and strapped into standard frames. The frames are then put to a conventional hive, such as a langstroth hive. The bees will follow into the new hive especially if the queen and brood can be transferred.

If the tree is cut down and the trunk section containing the colony is removed, the result is a log gum or gum hive. A log gum is essentially a bee tree cut into a short section that contained a colony of honey bees. It got its name from the fact that when gum trees die they rot from the inside out, thereby creating a large cavity which bees would commonly nest in. These hives are fixed comb hives and, therefore, medicating and inspecting is almost impossible.


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  • bee tree — bee′ tree n. pln a hollow tree used by wild bees as a hive, esp. the basswood • Etymology: 1775–85, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • bee tree — ☆ bee tree n. 1. a hollow tree used as a hive by bees 2. BASSWOOD (sense 1) …   English World dictionary

  • bee tree — noun 1. : a hollow tree in which honeybees have a nest 2. : basswood 1 * * * a hollow tree used by wild bees as a hive, esp. the basswood or American linden. [1775 85, Amer.] * * * bee tree, 1. a hollow tree in which bees hive. 2. the American… …   Useful english dictionary

  • bee tree — noun Date: 1773 a hollow tree in which honeybees nest …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bee tree — a hollow tree used by wild bees as a hive, esp. the basswood or American linden. [1775 85, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • Bee-eater — Bee eaters European Bee eaters, (Merops apiaster) Scientific classification Kingdom: A …   Wikipedia

  • bee gum — ☆ bee gum n. 1. Chiefly South a hollow gum tree or log used as a hive by bees 2. a beehive, esp. one made from such a tree …   English World dictionary

  • bee gum — noun 1. chiefly South & Midland : a hollow gum tree in which wild bees hive 2. chiefly South & Midland : a beehive made from sections of a hollow tree; broadly : beehive 3. chiefly South & Midland : a tall silk hat * * * Southern and South… …   Useful english dictionary

  • bee moth — Wax Wax, n. [AS. weax; akin to OFries. wax, D. was, G. wachs, OHG. wahs, Icel. & Sw. vax, Dan. vox, Lith. vaszkas, Russ. vosk .] [1913 Webster] 1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tree hollow — A tree hollow or tree hole is a semi enclosed cavity which has naturally formed in the trunk or branch of a tree. These are predominantly found in old trees, whether living or not. Hollows form in many species of trees, and are a prominent… …   Wikipedia

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