Throughout human history, there has always been a close relationship between honey bees and people. However, it was not until the sixteenth century that scientists of the time began studying the habits of honey bees, looking to find new ways to manage and control them. It was in 1851 when one of the most important discoveries in beekeeping, the “bee space”, was documented by an American minister, Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth. He discovered the importance of the “bee space” and patented a beehive design that carefully maintains the correct space between frames of comb that could be easily removed from a wooden box.
This hive design enables the beekeeper to gently lift frames out of the hive for inspection or extracting honey, without harming the bees or damaging the comb, protecting the brood contained within the cells.
Langstroth’s invention led to many improvements in beekeeping equipment. Today, all beehives (including the flowhive) are designed to incorporate this understanding of the bee space.
