Editing Langstroth hive (section)

{{short description|Vertically modular beehive with hung brood and honey frames}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox tool
| name           =Langstroth hive
| image          =File:Imkerei THWZ 0000.jpg
| image size     =
| caption        =Three Langstroth hives in tight assembly adjacent to an artificial water source
| alt            =Three thin walled rectangular wooden boxes sitting outdoors in tight formation on a raised platform. The boxes measure about {{cvt|40|x|50|cm|in}} and are {{cvt|60|cm|in}} tall with a wall thickness of about {{cvt|19|mm|in}}. A gap at the bottom allows honey bees to enter and exit. 
| other_name     = 
| classification = Beekeeping
| types          = 8-frames and 10-frames hives
| used_with      = 
| inventor       = [[L. L. Langstroth|Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth]]
| manufacturer   = various
| model          = 
| related        = 
}}

In [[beekeeping]], a '''Langstroth hive''' is any vertically modular [[beehive]] that has the key features of vertically hung frames, a bottom board with entrance for the bees, boxes containing frames for brood and honey (the lowest box for the queen to lay eggs, and boxes above where honey may be stored) and an inner cover and top cap to provide weather protection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perfectbee.com/your-beehive/beehives-and-accessories/langstroth-beehive-in-detail/|title=A Detailed Look at the Langstroth Beehive - PerfectBee|date=5 December 2016}}</ref> In a Langstroth hive, the bees build honeycomb into [[Hive frame|frames]], which can be moved with ease. The frames are designed to prevent bees from attaching [[honeycomb]]s where they would either connect adjacent frames, or connect frames to the walls of the hive. The movable frames allow the beekeeper to manage the bees in a way which was formerly impossible.

The key innovation responsible for the hive's design was the discovery of bee space, a gap size between {{cvt|6.4|and|9.5|mm|frac=8}} in which bees would not build [[burr comb]], nor fill the gap with [[propolis]]. Modern Langstroth hives have different dimensions from [[L. L. Langstroth]]'s beehive that was originally patented in 1852 and manufactured until ''circa'' 1920, but retain the main features of allowing bee space, as well as easy access, which works well for the bees, but also makes management of the beehive easier for the beekeeper. The standard beehive used in many parts of the world for [[beekeeping]] is based on the Langstroth hive.