{"product_id":"parker-3-level-insulated-beehive-australian-made","title":"Parker 3-Level Insulated Beehive with Mesh Bottom Board and Beetle Trap","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Three-Box Insulated Hive Built for Australian Heat, With No Painting Ever\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnyone 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 \u003cstrong\u003ethree-level hive\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003emade in Australia\u003c\/strong\u003e from \u003cstrong\u003ehigh-density structural polypropylene foam\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou get \u003cstrong\u003ethree full-depth boxes\u003c\/strong\u003e, a lid, and a \u003cstrong\u003emesh bottom board with built-in beetle trap, pest control trays and entrance control gates\u003c\/strong\u003e, plus \u003cstrong\u003e32 stainless steel screws\u003c\/strong\u003e to assemble it. Choose \u003cstrong\u003e8 frame or 10 frame\u003c\/strong\u003e. Frames are \u003cstrong\u003esold separately\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy Insulation Changes How a Colony Behaves\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMesh Bottom Board With Beetle Trap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeetles chased by the bees drop through the mesh into the trays below, where a dusting of \u003cstrong\u003ediatomaceous earth\u003c\/strong\u003e or a little oil finishes the job. The trays double as a monitoring board: slide one in with oil or petroleum jelly for \u003cstrong\u003e24 to 48 hours\u003c\/strong\u003e for a clean mite count. The entrance control gates narrow the entrance for a small colony or during robbing season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo Painting, No Rot, No Termites\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe foam is \u003cstrong\u003eUV stabilised\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003e30-year warranty\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThree Levels and 8 or 10 Frame\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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. \u003cstrong\u003eTen-frame\u003c\/strong\u003e holds more honey per box, while \u003cstrong\u003eeight-frame\u003c\/strong\u003e boxes are lighter when full. Both take standard full-depth frames, and mixing sizes in one apiary is a nuisance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorks With Your Wooden Gear\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe boxes are \u003cstrong\u003estandard Langstroth\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThings Worth Knowing Before You Buy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFoam 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Parker Engineering, made in Australia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e high-density structural polypropylene foam, UV stabilised, food grade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 full-depth boxes, 1 lid, 1 mesh bottom board with beetle trap, pest control trays and entrance control gates, 32 stainless steel screws\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSizes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 frame or 10 frame\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrames:\u003c\/strong\u003e not included, sold separately\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e standard Langstroth timber boxes and lids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e no painting or sealing required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarranty:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Beekeeping Gear","offers":[{"title":"8 Frames","offer_id":40060973350997,"sku":null,"price":329.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10 Frames","offer_id":40060973383765,"sku":null,"price":329.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0062\/5029\/9477\/files\/three-level-australian-made-beehive-with-mesh-bottom-3_b3fd3b79-c5ae-45e7-bb20-ee183b60ae0d.webp?v=1779112468","url":"https:\/\/www.beekeepinggear.com.au\/products\/parker-3-level-insulated-beehive-australian-made","provider":"Beekeeping Gear","version":"1.0","type":"link"}