Mud Hive: An Eco-friendly Approach for Apis mellifera
Mohammad Abdul Waseem *
Department of Natural Resource Management and Conservation, Forest College and Research Institute, Mulugu, Siddipet, Telangana – 502279, India.
Jagadeesh Bathula
Department of Natural Resource Management and Conservation, Forest College and Research Institute, Mulugu, Siddipet, Telangana – 502279, India.
Sailaja. V
Department of Natural Resource Management and Conservation, Forest College and Research Institute, Mulugu, Siddipet, Telangana – 502279, India.
Bimal Kumar Sahoo
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641003, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The stationary mud hive, designed as a non-transportable alternative to the BIS wooden hives, adheres to the same frame dimensions. A site with direct sunlight is chosen, and the hive is built using a mud mixture, iron planks, and standard Indian bricks (7.5 × 3.54 × 3.54 inches). A brick with a bee entry gate (6 × 2 inches) is made. The entire structure is then layered with mud, providing effective thermal insulation. After drying and sintering for strength, it holds up to 10 BIS frames. This traditional construction approach offers a reliable and environmentally sustainable alternative to modern beekeeping methods.
Keywords: Mud hive, Epic mellifera, weatherproofing, eco-friendly