Horizontal hives in hot humid areas

I'm in  southern Missouri, summers are hot and very humid, winters are very low humidity and high wind chill, although actual temperature isn't too extreme.  I'm looking at building horizontal hives based on the ideas in Keeping Bees with a Smile but he mostly glosses over summer heat, as it's not an issue for him. What needs to be done differently to account for heat and humidity?

I'm planning high insulation values, if you have looked at my house design, you would notice I'm into insulation, thermal mass, and good air flow. I don't think thermal mass would help bees. It stabilizes temperatures, problem being if it gets to a temperature you don't want, it's very difficult to change. But insulation and good air flow control make sense to me.

If I make the top bars so they touch each other, where can the excess heat come out at the top? The designs I see have the lid being a hollow space, that can be insulated in winter, and opened in summer, but how does air get into their little attic there?

What else might be needed for a hive that handles humid heat?

I would look to the type hives that are traditionally used in whichever climate you are in.  Hot, humid areas generally use top bar hives that have screen bottoms I believe.  I think insulation is the last thing you would want.  Bees create lots of heat.  I used to watch mine fanning at the entrance a lot in the summer.  Insulation helps keep houses cool because you cool the house with A/C, or with air flow, or by letting the cooler night air do it, and then insulation helps trap the cool air in.  In the case of the bees, insulation may just trap in the heat they create.  I think air flow would be the biggest help to them.

It may be helpful to make a roof over the bees with all four sides open to keep good air flow in the summer, and then something to block the wind chills on one side in the winter.  Straw bales would work well, but even a tarp stretched across two legs supporting the roof on the side the wind comes from would also work.

Just my thoughts.

bees are remarkably good at regulating temperatures. good access to water becomes more important as temperature conditions become more difficult for them because they use evaporation to cool the hive.

I would say don't put a hive where it will get intense sun during the hottest part of the day in the warm season. under an eave on the east side of a building is often a good option. if the hive will get any direct sun on the roof, adding insulation there (as in typical Warre designs) would be a good idea.

new comb is the most vulnerable to collapsing in high temperatures. after it's been used for a while, it becomes much stronger.

Pearl, there were actually several articles in American Bee Journal (the most recent in Aug. 2019 issue) about keeping bees in Layens horizontal hives in Florida - beekeepers really love them.
You are correct, good insulation is as important in hot climates as in cold ones. I'm finding that the best design in Southern Missouri conditions is a double-wall Layens hive with 1.5" of natural wool insulation in the walls and bottom, and with ventilated attic space (filled with a wool pillow for the winter, the Layens way). In the Layens hive, the air gets into the attic space through a small gap after the last frame (which you should not close - it is beneficial for ventilation.  The wintering setup is shown in Chapter 24 in Layens's Keeping Bees in Horizontal Hives and also in Keeping Bees with a Smile. These techniques have worked very well for me.

Pearl Sutton wrote:What needs to be done differently to account for heat and humidity? . . . What else might be needed for a hive that handles humid heat?

Leo Sharashkin wrote:Pearl, there were actually several articles in American Bee Journal (the most recent in Aug. 2019 issue) about keeping bees in Layens horizontal hives in Florida - beekeepers really love them.
You are correct, good insulation is as important in hot climates as in cold ones. I'm finding that the best design in Southern Missouri conditions is a double-wall Layens hive with 1.5" of natural wool insulation in the walls and bottom, and with ventilated attic space (filled with a wool pillow for the winter, the Layens way). In the Layens hive, the air gets into the attic space through a small gap after the last frame (which you should not close - it is beneficial for ventilation.  The wintering setup is shown in Chapter 24 in Layens's Keeping Bees in Horizontal Hives and also in Keeping Bees with a Smile. These techniques have worked very well for me.

Pearl, I am so glad you asked these questions! Thank you! I'm in South Carolina with similar climate problems, and this was the reason I didn't think the Layens hives would be my best option.

Leo, your answer definitely boosted my interest and confidence in going forward with bees again! Thank you!

Leo Sharashkin wrote:
You are correct, good insulation is as important in hot climates as in cold ones. I'm finding that the best design in Southern Missouri conditions is a double-wall Layens hive with 1.5" of natural wool insulation in the walls .....

That very interesting, I would not have thought that to be the case.

I live in central Kansas (Ellsworth) and have a Layens hive built from Dr. Sharashkin's plans. The summer temperatures can get extreme 100+. We have had temps of 104, 104, and 106 in one week earlier this summer and the bees tolerated it well, but we also had some days where the humidity was 76% and mid-90s, the bees bearded. initially, the hive was shaded by a maple tree and overgrown lilac bushes. At the request of my wife, I started cutting back the lilacs and the bees were exposed to the afternoon sun. I have a piece of stainless steel that I put on top of the lid to reflect the light and it works well. I think a Layens hive provides good housing for the colony. I had a swarm move in a couple of days after completion (Scouts were checking it out before completion), within three weeks 10 of the 14 frames were almost completely drawn and mostly filled with brood and honey. I have since made a new lid the accepts a Langstroth 10 frame deep box for more room and I can add shallow supers on that for honey supers. I think Layens is the way to go, but it does not lend itself well to commercial honey production.

Pearl Sutton wrote:I'm in  southern Missouri, summers are hot and very humid, winters are very low humidity and high wind chill, although actual temperature isn't too extreme.  I'm looking at building horizontal hives based on the ideas in Keeping Bees with a Smile but he mostly glosses over summer heat, as it's not an issue for him. What needs to be done differently to account for heat and humidity?

I'm planning high insulation values, if you have looked at my house design, you would notice I'm into insulation, thermal mass, and good air flow. I don't think thermal mass would help bees. It stabilizes temperatures, problem being if it gets to a temperature you don't want, it's very difficult to change. But insulation and good air flow control make sense to me.

If I make the top bars so they touch each other, where can the excess heat come out at the top? The designs I see have the lid being a hollow space, that can be insulated in winter, and opened in summer, but how does air get into their little attic there?

What else might be needed for a hive that handles humid heat?

I'm in Texas and my Bees love the Lazutin Hive year-round!   The great insulation helps them stay comfortable in all seasons with less work!  
I've built a few hives but am no carpenter.  Therefore, they aren't perfect.  I caulk any spaces on the outside and the bees take care of the inside.  
I insulated the top, drilled 2 1" holes in the wall opposite their front door and stapled screen inside them.  I used to seal them with rope in the winter but the bees seal and open it as they see fit.

Leo Sharashkin wrote:Pearl, there were actually several articles in American Bee Journal (the most recent in Aug. 2019 issue) about keeping bees in Layens horizontal hives in Florida - beekeepers really love them.
You are correct, good insulation is as important in hot climates as in cold ones. I'm finding that the best design in Southern Missouri conditions is a double-wall Layens hive with 1.5" of natural wool insulation in the walls and bottom, and with ventilated attic space (filled with a wool pillow for the winter, the Layens way). In the Layens hive, the air gets into the attic space through a small gap after the last frame (which you should not close - it is beneficial for ventilation.  The wintering setup is shown in Chapter 24 in Layens's Keeping Bees in Horizontal Hives and also in Keeping Bees with a Smile. These techniques have worked very well for me.

We are planning to have a group build on March 11, near Kansas City, of swarm traps and Dr Leo hives. My buddy Mikel went to his seminar and has read the books and has a cabinetmaker type woodworking father… I’ve just watched the Doug and Stacy videos with Dr. Leo, but already talking it up to my Amish and English farmer neighbors! LOL, going to try and get it going up in Harrison County, MO too! :) Glad to see Dr Leo is on here!

Yes he makes bee keeping approachable, that’s better than half the battle I say