The Ruta hive is a common bee house. The design was developed by American beekeepers. The current model is correctly called the Langstroth-Root hive. Since it was created by 2 famous beekeepers.
Hive overview and features
Beekeepers fell in love with Rut’s hives for their convenience in keeping and breeding bee colonies. The model is a house of several buildings. The basic design principle is to create familiar conditions for insects.
The main advantage of the Rutov hives is the ability to fraudulently increase the number of insects. The hives are designed as a multi-hull design. This allows the floors to be rearranged. When separating the filled bodies, the bees rush to close the gap in the form of an empty box.
The structure of the Rutov hive has a number of distinctive features:
- lack of dividing covers and bottoms between the bodies;
- frames are made in small sizes;
- flat roof;
- the cases are installed on top of each other;
- honeycomb frames are installed on projections made on store extensions;
- the queen is placed in the bottom drawer and restrained with a net.
Rutov constructions are mainly used in regions with warm weather. Rearrangement of the bodies is performed every two weeks. This will avoid hypothermia of insects while caring for the apiary.
How the Langstroth-Ruth hive was created
Lorenz Lauren Langstroth
The Langstroth-Ruth hive was created by American beekeepers, after whom the design was named. The model is a multi-body vertical house with shortened frames. Due to the shortened frames, beekeepers can install new hulls vertically. And thus expand the house.
The American L.L. Langstroth. The model was later refined by the beekeeper Amos Root. He made the bottom removable and the roof flat. The rest of the parameters remained unchanged. The design redesign has improved serviceability. This made it possible to increase the demand for the Rutov model and launch its mass production.
Advantages of construction
A 10-frame root hive is a popular bee house model with many advantages:
- simplicity in operation;
- the ability to expand the hive at any time;
- compact design;
- the living environment for bees is as close to natural as possible;
- large bribe yield;
- the ability to collect pollen.
This type of house provides space for food supplies.
Design flaws
The Rutov hive also has disadvantages:
- multi-level houses are difficult to use for beginners;
- large stores. In terms of dimensions, the structure resembles floors. With improper care, hypothermia of the bee colony is possible. As a consequence of the death of insects;
- small nests. Lattices are required to restrict the uterus in the lower box.
Design flaws are more likely to affect beginners in apiary breeding. For experienced beekeepers, keeping and breeding insects in such a structure will not be a problem.
What are the differences between Ruta hives and Dadanovsky hives
Ruta hives are in demand among beekeepers. These methods of beekeeping give good results. Some beekeepers compare Rutovsky with Dadanov’s hive and point to their similarities. In fact, the principles of keeping a bee colony in the Rutov and Dadanov designs are different. In Ruta houses, care and maintenance is based on the behavioral characteristics of insects:
- the house consists of several buildings. Each section has 10 frames;
- after leaving the hibernation of insects, beekeepers install another building with a foundation above the bees;
- the installation of another section serves as an invitation for the family to expand the owl’s nest. They move to a warm building. The queen follows the bees;
- as soon as the insects get over, the beekeeper changes the sections;
- after filling the body with honey, the brood uterus is separated with a net. Workers can pass through this grid freely, but the queen cannot. This stimulates worker insects to collect honey, and the uterus to increase brood.
Important:
Ruta hives are suitable for warm regions. In cold areas, there is a risk of hypothermia and death of the brood. Because the sections need to be rearranged regularly.
But for the Dadanovsky hive it is characteristic:
- replacement of several frames after wintering;
- later, when the frames are filled with honey, a bribe store is installed;
- as the extension is filled, it can be replaced empty or additionally put another magazine between the nest.
The design of the Dadanov hives does not allow the colony to be overcooled. The model is used mainly in cold regions. In addition, Dadan’s hives are easy to maintain. Therefore, it is recommended for beginners.
Technology of keeping bees in Ruta hives
The conditions for keeping bee colonies in the Ruta hive are close to natural. The beekeeper does not need to carry out additional work inside the house. His task is to swap the sections in time and pick up the frames filled with honey.
Root hives are popular due to the design advantages:
- the correct application of beekeeping methods can increase the effectiveness of insects;
- keeping Ruta in hives stimulates the growth of insect workers;
- all parts of the house are interchangeable.
Important:
Another challenge for the Ruth hive for beekeepers is the inspection of the nest. All housings must be removed for inspection.
Changing the hive hive hive hive needs to be done quickly. Since in case of delay, the brood can be chilled.
Making a Ruta beehive with your own hands for 10 frames
Outwardly, the bee house resembles the Dadan hive. However, for the Rutov design, 10 frames will be required, and for the Dadanov lounger 12. The number of cases depends on the number of bee colonies that are planned to be planted in the house.
Necessary materials and tools
To make Rutov houses you will need:
- wood measuring 35 cm. You can use pine or fir;
- screws and nails for fixing parts;
- saw, hammer and screwdriver;
- wood glue.
It’s really possible to make the Rutov hive on your own. This requires stocking up on material and tools.
Operating procedure
To assemble the Ruth hive, you need to prepare the details:
- the main part of the structure of the hull wall. The number of floors is determined by the beekeeper. First, the walls are assembled, fastened with glue and fixed with screws. The resulting structure lacks a bottom and a ceiling;
- the upper notch is made with a diameter of 25 mm. Drill it 7 cm from the upper cut;
- assembly of a cover and a subkryshnik. A hole for insulation is left between these parts;
- the cover is made of boards with a thickness of 5 mm. Ventilation holes must be provided in the cover. The finished part is upholstered with a tin sheet;
- an additional entrance with a diameter of 10 mm is made in the bottom.
Insects are planted in finished buildings. Inexperienced beekeepers are advised to use bee packages to transplant bees into a hive. They take root well on the Root frame. But you can buy them only in the spring.
dimensions
According to standard drawings, the dimensions of a 10-frame root hive are represented by the following values:
- body – length 450, width 380 and height 240 mm on the inside;
- liner and lid – length 450, width 380 and height 70 mm on the inside.
On the outside, the values will be as follows:
- body – length 520, width 450 and height 250 mm;
- liner and cover – length 520, width 450 and height 80 mm;
- bottom – length 520, width 450 and height 70 mm.
The choice of wood thickness depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. For colder areas, the material should be denser.
Beehive drawing
Standard dimensions and drawings of hives are designed for 10 frames. There are other modifications of the Rutov hives. But, if the beekeeper makes houses of this type for the first time, it is better to use the traditional scheme.
Ruth’s bee house consists of 4 sections. To assemble one case, take 2 side panels of the same size and one front and one rear panel. To assemble the roof cover, 4 walls are required. Two for the sides and two for the front.
The roof is made in the same way as the liner. After assembly, it is covered with 540 x 540 mm plywood. It is recommended to additionally insulate a sheet of plywood from the inside. Outside, plywood is also reinforced with sheet metal or any other material that protects against moisture.
For the bottom, 2 side plates are harvested, the back one without a stroke for the bees and the front one, in which the entrance is previously made. In addition, you will need to prepare the material for the bottom. Then, connect the side panels to the back plate. Next, the bottom and front plate are inserted. The resulting structure is glued together. When the glue dries, the parts are fixed with screws.
Route frame
Ruth frames can be assembled by yourself. This will require:
- top trims;
- side bars;
- straps for the bottom;
- hangers.
The Ruta hive is widespread throughout America. In Russia and Europe, such models of houses are used less often. However, thanks to the efficiency and high productivity of bee colonies, our beekeepers are gradually introducing hives in their apiaries.
