Parker 3-Level Insulated Beehive with Mesh Bottom Board and Beetle Trap

A Three-Box Insulated Hive Built for Australian Heat, With No Painting Ever

Anyone who has opened a timber hive on a 40 degree afternoon knows the look of a colony that has given up on anything except keeping cool: bees bearding on the front and half the workforce fanning at the entrance. In a frosty inland winter the cluster has the opposite problem, burning through stores just to hold its temperature. This is Parker Engineering's three-level hive, made in Australia from high-density structural polypropylene foam.

You get three full-depth boxes, a lid, and a mesh bottom board with built-in beetle trap, pest control trays and entrance control gates, plus 32 stainless steel screws to assemble it. Choose 8 frame or 10 frame. Frames are sold separately.

Why Insulation Changes How a Colony Behaves

A colony spends a lot of energy on climate control. In a thin-walled box that means fanning hard through summer and clustering tight through winter. The foam walls hold the inside temperature steadier through the day and the seasons, so the bees put more effort into brood, comb and honey.

Mesh Bottom Board With Beetle Trap

Beetles chased by the bees drop through the mesh into the trays below, where a dusting of diatomaceous earth or a little oil finishes the job. The trays double as a monitoring board: slide one in with oil or petroleum jelly for 24 to 48 hours for a clean mite count. The entrance control gates narrow the entrance for a small colony or during robbing season.

No Painting, No Rot, No Termites

The foam is UV stabilised and does not absorb water, so there is nothing to paint, seal or re-coat. It will not warp in the sun, rot at the corners or attract termites, and it washes down and dries fast. Parker backs the hive with a 30-year warranty.

Three Levels and 8 or 10 Frame

In spring, run two brood boxes and one honey super. Once the flow is on, switch to one brood box with a queen excluder and two supers above. Starting with a nuc, one box is enough at first. Ten-frame holds more honey per box, while eight-frame boxes are lighter when full. Both take standard full-depth frames, and mixing sizes in one apiary is a nuisance.

Works With Your Wooden Gear

The boxes are standard Langstroth dimensions, so a timber super sits on a Parker brood box and frames move between hives. The stainless screws will not rust or streak the walls.

Things Worth Knowing Before You Buy

Foam is light, so a hive in a windy spot needs a strap or a weight on the lid. Bees will chew exposed foam edges over time, and a careless hive tool will leave marks. If you prefer timber, the OZ ARMOUR 3-level painted hive with a wax-dipped mesh bottom board covers the same ground in wood.

Specifications

• Brand: Parker Engineering, made in Australia
• Material: high-density structural polypropylene foam, UV stabilised, food grade
• Includes: 3 full-depth boxes, 1 lid, 1 mesh bottom board with beetle trap, pest control trays and entrance control gates, 32 stainless steel screws
• Sizes: 8 frame or 10 frame
• Frames: not included, sold separately
• Compatibility: standard Langstroth timber boxes and lids
• Finish: no painting or sealing required
• Warranty: 30 years

What is the hive made from?

High-density structural polypropylene foam that is UV stabilised, made in Australia by Parker Engineering.

Does it need painting?

No. The foam does not absorb water, so there is nothing to paint, seal or re-coat.

What is included in the box?

Three full-depth boxes, a lid, a mesh bottom board with beetle trap, pest control trays and entrance control gates, and 32 stainless steel screws.

Are frames included?

No. Frames are sold separately so you can choose the foundation you prefer.

Should I choose 8 frame or 10 frame?

Ten-frame holds more honey per box. Eight-frame is lighter when full. If you already run one size, stay with it.

Does it fit with timber hive gear?

Yes. The boxes are standard Langstroth dimensions, so timber supers, lids and frames work with it.

How does the beetle trap work?

Beetles drop through the mesh into the trays below, where diatomaceous earth or a little oil finishes the job.

Can I use the trays to monitor varroa?

Yes. Slide a tray in with a smear of oil or petroleum jelly for 24 to 48 hours and count the mites that fall.

Do I need to strap it down?

In a windy spot, yes. Foam is light, so use a strap or a weight on the lid.

How long is the warranty?

Parker backs the hive with a 30-year warranty.