Why should you tape your hive?
Taping around the joins of your hive is crucial for the bees. It provides an extra external barrier of defence against moisture and predators trying to gain access to the hive. We encourage all beekeepers to maintain their hives by re-taping the joins every 2–3 months or whenever the tape appears to have lost its integrity.
The best tape to use is Bear Cloth Tape, which can be purchased from your local hardware store. The white tape is ideal as it lasts the longest, matches the colour of the hive, and doesn’t contribute to excess heat inside. (Please avoid using black cloth tape, as it will increase the temperature of your hive.) This tape is very cost-effective—a 25m roll will last over a year for a single hive.
When is the best time to re-tape your hive? Choose a dry day, after the morning dew has evaporated, to ensure the tape adheres properly without moisture interfering with the seal. The hive has two joins: one between the brood boxes and another where the top brood box meets the honey super. Both need to be securely taped to prevent predators, such as syrphid flies, from laying eggs in the gaps.
To re-tape your hive, follow these steps:
On a dry, sunny day, remove the existing tape from your hive.
Brush off any dirt or debris from the sides of the hive.
Starting at one of the back corners, align the tape with the join and begin wrapping it around the hive, applying firm pressure and keeping the tape taut to avoid bunching.
Once you’ve wrapped around the entire join, tear the tape and overlap the end.
Go over the newly applied tape with extra pressure from your hands to ensure a strong seal.
Repeat these steps for the second join of the hive.
Sometimes, it may be necessary to clean off any tape residue before applying fresh tape. You can do this using a small amount of eucalyptus oil on a rag or antibacterial wipes. After cleaning, allow the surface to dry for a few minutes before applying the new tape.
White Bear Cloth Tape
Cloth tape can be purchased in 25m or 50m rolls as pictured
