Bee tree

A bee tree is a tree in which a colony of honeybees makes its home. A colony of bees may live in a bee tree for many years. Most bee trees have a large inner hollow, often with an upper and lower entrance. If the tree is cut down and the trunk section containing the colony is removed, the result is a Log gum or gum hive.

Colonies in trees have fixed comb, so inspection and management is impossible, as is most harvesting without destroying the colony. A beekeeper can perform a cut-out on a gum hive. The trunk is cut open to expose the cavity, and the comb is carefully removed and strapped into standard frames. The frames are then put to a conventional hive, such as a langstroth hive. The bees will follow into the new hive especially if the queen and brood can be transferred.