Content
- 1 Important characteristics of penoplex hives
- 2 Advantages of hives made of PPS
- 3 Disadvantages of foam hives
- 4 How does the material affect the quality of honey?
- 5 How to make a beehive from PPS with your own hands
- 6 Features of keeping bees in polystyrene foam hives
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Reviews from beekeepers about polystyrene foam hives
Hives made of polystyrene foam have not yet received mass recognition among domestic beekeepers, but are already found in private apiaries. Compared to wood, polystyrene foam is much lighter, is not afraid of dampness, and has lower thermal conductivity. However, PPS is fragile, and its chemical origin is not always welcomed by beekeepers.
Important characteristics of penoplex hives
In beekeeping, beehives made of polystyrene foam are not very common. The material is more used in construction for thermal insulation. The new type of houses is currently being tested by private beekeepers. It’s worth noting right away that expanded polystyrene and polystyrene foam are similar materials in appearance, but they differ in characteristics and production method. Foam plastic is least suitable for making hives due to its lower density and susceptibility to crumbling into small balls. Penoplex is a representative of expanded polystyrene.
If we consider these materials as a whole, then the hives made from them are warm.In winter, the houses do not need to be covered, but in summer, the foam walls protect the bees from the heat. In addition, PPS has high sound insulating properties. Silence is always maintained inside the penoplex hive; the bees are always calm.
A big advantage is the resistance of polystyrene foam, EPS and penoplex to moisture. The hives are capable of being exposed to rain for a long time. Compared to wood, the material is resistant to swelling, rotting, and deformation. EPS does not absorb moisture. After rain, the hive remains just as light and can be easily moved to another place.
Factory-made PPS hives are easy to use. First of all, they are lightweight. One person can maintain a polystyrene foam hive. Secondly, the parts of the collapsible design are interchangeable. If one element breaks, it is replaced rather than buying a new hive.
Advantages of hives made of PPS
Positive features are reflected in reviews of polystyrene foam hives left by professional beekeepers. Ukrainian beekeeper N. N. Nakhaev found many advantages in using PPS hives in the spring. From personal observations, the beekeeper concluded that bees develop better in a polystyrene foam house than inside a wooden structure. Polystyrene foam has poor thermal conductivity. It is easier for bees to maintain an optimal microclimate for brood development.
When the hive is warm, the bees expend less energy. Accordingly, feed consumption is reduced. Productivity increases in PPS hives. The apiary brings in more income.
An important advantage is the ease of transporting the hives. Polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam and penoplex are very lightweight materials. The hives are easy to move, and you can travel outdoors to increase your harvest.
Disadvantages of foam hives
Penoplex hives have a number of disadvantages. They are not related to the technology of keeping bees, but to the maintenance of the house. EPS and polystyrene foam are fragile. Inaccurate disassembly of the housing leads to breakage of the connecting folds. The process of cleaning propolis becomes difficult. You won't be able to scrape it off with a chisel. Propolis will come off along with grains of polystyrene foam or EPS.
Do not use a blowtorch to disinfect the hive. Polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam ignite quickly. You will need to additionally purchase special disinfectants. The solution is used that is harmless to bees, polystyrene foam, penoplex and EPS.
The light weight of polystyrene foam not only creates advantages when transporting hives, but also brings a lot of inconvenience. The houses have to be tied together with soft straps, otherwise the wind will scatter the houses. In the apiary, the lids of the PPS hives must be pressed down with stones or bricks. Without fixation, they will be blown away by the wind.
How does the material affect the quality of honey?
Polish and Finnish beehives made of polystyrene foam were the first to appear, and later domestic manufacturers began to use penoplex for the manufacture of penoplex houses. Beekeepers were wary of the new product. After all, styrene tends to accumulate in the body of bees and their waste products. However, the harmfulness of PPS hives has not been scientifically confirmed. If there are accumulations of styrene, then they are in minuscule safe quantities.
In production, penoplex, polystyrene foam, and expanded polystyrene are tested for toxicity by SES services. In European countries, the material is allowed for the production of houses. Expertise has proven that polystyrene foam does not degrade the quality of honey.
How to make a beehive from PPS with your own hands
To assemble a homemade polystyrene foam hive, you will need to select the appropriate material. It is optimal to choose slabs with a thickness of 50 mm. It is important to pay attention to the density of foam plastic or penoplex. The higher the indicator, the stronger the material, the higher the sound insulation, and the lower the thermal conductivity. When choosing slabs, it is better to give preference to penoplex or expanded polystyrene. They can be recognized by their porous structure, reminiscent of a foam sponge. Polystyrene foam consists of small balls that crumble when abraded by hand.
When assembling beehives from polystyrene foam with your own hands, drawings are definitely needed. PPS boards are expensive. The drawings will help you optimally calculate the required number of sheets of expanded polystyrene and economically cut out the fragments.
Drawings of polystyrene foam hives
The simplest option is to make a 6-frame hive from PPS using foam sheets. Experienced beekeepers often use polystyrene foam to assemble cores and Dadanov. If desired, you can make a sunbed. A multi-body hive with 10 frames measuring 450x375 mm is considered common.
For professionals, do-it-yourself drawings of a penoplex hive with 16 frames measuring 435x300 mm will be more suitable. The house has a nesting compartment (690x540x320 mm), a half-frame magazine (690x540x165 mm). The cover and bottom of the PPS hive have dimensions of 690x540x80 mm. Aperture size 450x325x25 mm. The Dobrynya+ modular house, produced by a domestic manufacturer, has similar parameters.
Preparation of tools and materials
First, materials are purchased to make a hive. You will need PPS slabs. The standard size of a penoplex sheet is 1.2 x 0.6 m. To fasten the elements, glue, liquid nails, and self-tapping screws up to 70 mm long are used. To prevent the internal folds under the frames from breaking off, they are reinforced with metal corners. To draw a drawing and transfer fragments to penoplex, you will need whatman paper.
Tools you will need:
- ruler 100 cm long;
- marker;
- sharp stationery knife;
- fine-grained sandpaper.
Additionally, you will need a steel mesh with small cells to cover the ventilation holes.
Build process
A homemade PPP house is assembled in the following sequence:
- draw a diagram on whatman paper, cut out fragments, transfer them to a sheet of polystyrene foam;
- the expanded polystyrene plate is cut with a knife according to the applied markings;
- the cut parts are sanded with sandpaper;
- the elements of the front and rear walls of the house are equipped with folds for laying frames;
- the cut parts are glued together, the joints are reinforced with self-tapping screws with a pitch of 120 mm;
- On the outside of the hive, recesses for handles are cut out in polystyrene foam.
The assembled house is tightened with straps until the glue completely hardens. The remaining cracks are filled with polyurethane foam.
The final stage of work
After 1-3 days, the glue should completely harden. The hive is released from the straps. The ventilation holes are covered with steel mesh. The internal folds under the frames are covered with a metal corner. The outside of the PPS hive is painted with water-based façade paint.
Features of keeping bees in polystyrene foam hives
Hives made of polystyrene foam and penoplex are not brought into the winter hut, otherwise the insects will become steamed. Houses spend the winter outside.The hives are pressed against each other by their sides for optimal heat retention. In spring, increased bee activity will occur earlier than in wooden houses. Early brood will appear. At this time, it is important to open the vents to remove moisture. In summer, it is optimal to replace the polystyrene foam bottom with a mesh.
If there are wooden hives in the apiary, then it is better to plant strong families there. Weakened layers are left in houses made of penoplex or polystyrene foam. The nests are not insulated for the winter. The outside of the hive is constantly maintained painted with emulsion and color, otherwise the PPS will begin to disappear under the sun.
Conclusion
Beehives made of polystyrene foam are the best solution for maintaining weakened colonies. In winter, an optimal microclimate is maintained inside the house; insects spend less energy and use food sparingly.
