Apimaye Ergo PLUS White Single Brood Box Beehive Set (qualifies for free shipping)

Getting started

This set is ideal for moving a nuc (a small starter colony on 5 frames) into a full-size hive, for a split (part of a strong colony moved to its own hive), or for adding a hive to an existing apiary. Add Ergo supers as the bees fill the box. New to beekeeping? We recommend starting with the Double Brood Box set, which comes with a second deep box so your colony has room to expand as it grows.

What's in the box

• 1 insulated deep brood box (fits 10 deep frames)
• Insulated top cover
• Pair of top half feeders, or upgrade to the one-piece Dual Feeder (+$15)
• Screened bottom board with pollen trap, IPM tray and built-in adjustable entrance (works as an entrance reducer and mouse guard)
• Queen excluder: a flat panel that sits between boxes and keeps the queen (and her eggs) out of the boxes above it, for when you add a second box or honey super
• Division/uniting board (3 settings, fits the bottom brood box)
• 2 frame spacers
• Stainless steel latches and handles

Why beekeepers choose Ergo

• Foam-filled walls, not just plastic. Polyurethane foam is sealed inside every wall, so colonies can use less of their stored honey to stay warm and work less to cool the hive in the heat. See what USDA and university studies found →
• Assembled and ready. No painting, no rot, no warping. Built-in handles give you a solid grip, even on full boxes, and stainless steel latches lock the boxes securely together, great for moving and windy sites.
• Food-safe, BPA-free materials. Built from food-grade virgin HDPE, the same durable, lightweight plastic used in household food containers, with food-grade additives for UV protection and color.
• Screened bottom board with built-in pollen trap. It improves ventilation and has a pull-out tray that doubles as an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) board, used to monitor and help control small hive beetle and Varroa mite populations.
• Adjustable entrance, built in. The entrance closes completely for moving the hive, narrows to help a small or weak colony defend against robbing, and keeps mice out over winter.
• Built-in division and uniting board. Slides into the bottom brood box to split it into two 5-frame sections. It has 3 settings:
  • Closed: keeps two colonies fully apart, for a split, a nuc beside your main colony, or two small colonies overwintering in one hive.
  • Merge: lets scent through but not bees, so two colonies get used to each other before you unite them.
  • Queen-excluding: workers pass through but the queen stays on her side, which is useful for queen rearing. This is separate from the queen excluder panel.
  It fits the bottom box only. To divide an upper deep, add a division board for deep supers.

Good to know

• Switching from wood? Your existing 10-frame Langstroth frames fit, and you can stack wooden boxes on top.
• Frames are optional: choose wood, PRO or Core frames with Premier double-wax foundation. Which frames are best for you?
• Half feeders or Dual Feeder? Both sit on top of the hive under the cover. The standard pair of half feeders holds about 0.8 gallon in total. You can lift one off and set it on the other to inspect half the hive at a time, and feed syrup on one side and cake on the other. They also fit 5-frame nucs. The one-piece Dual Feeder (+$15) holds about 1 gallon of syrup plus fondant or a pollen patty in the center. Its clear reservoir cover lets you check syrup levels at a glance.
• Using the pollen trap: During a strong pollen flow, once the colony has plenty of pollen stored, slide the trap in from the back of the hive. Returning bees pass through small holes that knock the pollen off their legs into the tray below. Trap no more than 1–2 days a week so the colony keeps enough pollen for its brood, and empty the tray often. When you're not collecting, pull the trap out and put the red plug in its place. How the pollen trap works →
• Entrance color is random unless you pick a color (+$5). Mixing colors also helps bees find their own hive.
• Will it overheat in summer? Insulation slows heat coming in from hot air and direct sun, helping the bees keep a steadier brood temperature. The screened bottom board adds ventilation.
• Why white: White reflects the most sunlight, which is why it's our pick for Arizona, Texas, Florida and the Southwest. The color is molded into UV-stabilized plastic rather than painted on, so there's nothing to peel or repaint. Prefer a natural look? This set also comes in tan.
• Setup manual: Ergo hive set manual (PDF) covers assembly and setup for every Ergo hive configuration.