Apiary

Definition

A managed site where colonies of honey bees (Apis spp.) are kept in hives, typically for honey production, colony propagation, or pollination services. Apiaries range from small backyard setups to large commercial operations, and may be stationary or migratory depending on seasonal forage availability.

Etymology

From Latin apiarium, from apis (bee)

Example

A beekeeper in the Pacific Northwest maintains an apiary of fifty Langstroth hives near blueberry fields to provide contracted pollination services during bloom, then moves the colonies to fireweed meadows for late-season honey harvest.

Synonyms

• bee yard

Related Terms

• hive
• colony
• beekeeper
• apiculture
• Langstroth hive
• pollination service
• migratory beekeeping
• Honey bee

Usage Notes

Distinct from a wild bee nest site; implies human management. Size and density vary widely, from single-hive hobby apiaries to thousand-colony commercial operations. Urban apiaries on rooftops have become common in cities worldwide. The term does not apply to managed housing for non-Apis bees (e.g., mason bee blocks, bumblebee domiciles).