Apimaye Insulated Beehives
From Michigan winters to Arizona summers
- Independently lab-tested R-6.93 insulationWarmer winters, cooler summers
- Food-safe plasticBPA-free, food-grade HDPE
- Works with your existing 10-frame Langstroth gearYour wooden frames fit inside and your wooden boxes stack on top
Apimaye hives have an independently lab-tested R-value of 6.93. A standard 3/4-inch wooden hive wall is about R-1, so that's 6–7 times the insulation. See the test results See what the research found
- 4.8 out of 5 from 1,293 reviews
- Complete hive sets from $265
- Free shipping on every hive set
- Assembled and ready to use
- Family business in Phoenix, AZ
- 12,000+ beekeepers in our Facebook group
Ergo 10 Frame Complete Insulated Hive Sets
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Ergo Insulated White Honey & Brood Beehive Set
![White Ergo insulated Honey & Brood hive set (2 deeps + 2 mediums), blue entrance]()
2 deep boxes + 2 medium supers- Regular price
- From $620.00
Next Generation Insulated Thermo Hives for Every Climate
The Apimaye beehive was developed to make it easier to manage a colony of bees and produce more honey.
Insulation is sealed inside the side walls and the top cover of these insulated Thermo Hives, keeping the colony warmer in winter and cooler in summer, whatever your climate.
Thermal Insulation & Built-in Ventilation
Apimaye insulated Thermo Hives have an independently lab-tested R-value of 6.93. Colonies use less honey to stay warm in winter and spend less energy fanning to cool the hive in summer.
Fresh air enters through the screened bottom board, rises through the ventilation ducts and leaves through the louvres in the top cover. This steady airflow carries moisture out of the hive, helping keep the cluster dry through winter.
What studies of insulated hives found
- Fewer winter losses1 lost vs 6 lostcolonies lost over winter, insulated vs uninsulatedUniversity of Illinois, 2022Insulated1 of 22Uninsulated 6 of 210%100% of colonies
- Lost less weight1.8 lb vs 10.6 lbcolony weight lost June–December (stored food, bees and comb), polyurethane vs wooden hivesUSDA, 2026Polyurethane1.8 lbWooden 10.6 lb
- More honey+13 lb per colonyabout 35% more honey, foam-core insulated vs wooden hives, one seasonBayburt University, 2019Insulated50.7 lb+13 lbWooden 37.7 lb
These studies compared insulated and wooden hives in general, not Apimaye specifically.
Everything in One Package
Every Apimaye Ergo hive set comes with a screened bottom board with a built-in adjustable entrance reducer and mouse guard, plus a pollen trap and IPM tray to help with Varroa mites and small hive beetles. You also get a top feeder, queen excluder, division/uniting board, frame spacers, and stainless steel latches and handles. Frames are sold separately, so you can reuse your own or add wood, PRO or Core frames when you order.
Family of Beekeepers
We're a family of beekeepers and bee scientists in sunny Arizona, led by my dad, Dr. Osman Kaftanoglu, a retired honey bee researcher from Arizona State University. We've been bringing Apimaye hives to US beekeepers since 2015.
From the Beekeeping Knowledge Base
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Fall Management and Overwintering in Apimaye Insulated Hives
A fall checklist for getting colonies through winter in Apimaye insulated hives: queens, honey stores, Varroa control, colony strength, location, ventilation, and frame layouts...
Read the article → -
How to Start Beekeeping: 5 Ways to Get Your First Colony
Five ways to get your first honey bee colony, from package bees and nucs to catching swarms, with the pros and cons of each....
Read the article → -
What to Do in a Queenless Hive
How to tell if a colony is queenless, whether to requeen or unite it, and how to judge your queen by her brood pattern....
Read the article →
Testimonials
Let customers speak for us
I love that they can reverse the entrances , makes split hives a-lot easier!
This makes tending the hives, feeding and most importantly easy winter feeding without disturbing them.
This piece of metal is worth every penny. No more melting the hive. Plus will hold my fogger while it dispenses, so I can step back out of potential OA fumes. A must have item!
well built and worth the price
Love them super easy to set up we started late in the season and I am pretty sure we will fill half the jars. The bees like them as well.
This feeder is the best one yet no dead bees
Works great easy snap open insert and close
The insulated 7 frame hive seems solid. I like all of the options available for bee entrances. I particularly like the hive top feeder. I have not used the division board yet but I can see its benefits for next spring when I make splits. The final verdict won’t be out until next Spring. Let’s see how it compares to traditional wood boxes…
Love the quality of the product
Great hive!!! Has a ton of options that other hive don’t have. I am super happy with this purchase!!!
We are new to beekeeping but so far we are learning about the apimaye and love that it is well built and we are feeding 1:1 sugar water in the upper feed tray! So far so good!
I don't normally leave reviews but here at Patriot Pollen we have switched to all Apimaye hives and it's amazing! No more rotten, cracked, damaged wood. Easy to pick up and transport hives, we aren't wondering were they entrance reducer went. Bees love the hives and thrive faster than they did in the wooden ones. Winters in the North East have less loss. Wouldn't use anything else!
A great product and Fantastic support staff
I had one of these feeders that came with the upgrade kit for wooden hives. I liked it so much I bought 3 more feeders. I do put a small piece of sponge as I was having an issue with some bees drowning on my first feeder. Customer service gave excellent advice.
Excellent product it worked out perfect for my application
What customers think about the store
Store specializing in insulated beekeeping equipment with excellent durability and winter survival rates. Customers praise quality construction, innovative features like built-in feeders and pollen traps, and responsive customer service. Products help bees thr...
AI-generated from customer reviews.
Common Questions
Quick answers to what beekeepers ask us most.
Which hive set should a beginner buy?
We recommend the Double Brood Box set (from $395). It comes with two deep boxes, so your colony has room to grow through its first season. Add a honey super once the bees have filled both deeps.
Will my bees overheat in summer?
Insulation slows heat coming in from hot air and direct sun, helping your bees keep a steadier brood temperature. Fresh air enters through the screened bottom board and leaves through the louvres in the top cover. In very hot, sunny areas, choose white hives, which reflect more sun.
Will my wooden frames and boxes fit?
Yes. Ergo hives have the same internal dimensions as standard 10-frame Langstroth boxes, so your wooden frames fit inside and your 10-frame wooden boxes stack on top.
Is the plastic safe for bees?
Yes. Apimaye hives are made from food-grade virgin HDPE, the same durable plastic used in household food containers. It's BPA-free and UV-stabilized.
How much is shipping?
Ground shipping is free on Apimaye products over $50, and on every hive set. Alaska and Hawaii ship by custom quote, so please email us before ordering.