Super
In beekeeping, "Super" refers to the stackable boxes placed on top of the main hive body where bees store excess honey. Think of it like adding extra floors to an apartment building - these additional boxes give bees more space to store honey. When beekeepers mention "Supers" in their experience, they're talking about managing these honey storage boxes, which is a fundamental skill in honey production. You might also see this term written as "Honey Super" or "Hive Super." It's a basic but crucial piece of equipment that every beekeeper works with.
Examples in Resumes
Managed 50 colonies with multiple Super boxes during peak honey flow season
Implemented proper Super timing to maximize honey production
Trained new beekeepers in Super management and honey extraction techniques
Typical job title: "Beekeepers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Beekeepers
Online Communities
Professional Organizations
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the optimal time to add or remove Supers from hives?
Expected Answer: A senior beekeeper should discuss seasonal nectar flows, colony strength assessment, and monitoring honey storage patterns. They should mention preventing swarming and maintaining proper space for the colony.
Q: How do you manage multiple apiaries with different Super needs?
Expected Answer: Should explain coordinating Super management across multiple locations, considering local flower blooms, weather patterns, and colony strength variations.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What methods do you use to prevent brace comb between Supers?
Expected Answer: Should discuss proper spacing techniques, frame management, and regular maintenance to keep bee spaces correct and prevent mess between boxes.
Q: How do you prepare Supers for the honey flow season?
Expected Answer: Should explain cleaning, maintenance, and proper storage of Super boxes during off-season, and timing of deployment for maximum honey production.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between a brood box and a Super?
Expected Answer: Should explain that brood boxes are where bees raise their young, while Supers are for honey storage above the brood area.
Q: How do you know when a Super is ready for honey extraction?
Expected Answer: Should describe checking frame coverage and honey cap sealing to determine when honey is ready for harvest.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic hive component identification
- Adding and removing Supers
- Basic honey extraction
- Understanding bee space
Mid (2-5 years)
- Managing multiple hives with Supers
- Seasonal Super timing
- Honey production optimization
- Equipment maintenance
Senior (5+ years)
- Large-scale apiary management
- Commercial honey production
- Staff training and supervision
- Advanced colony management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic hive components
- Inability to recognize when to add or remove Supers
- Lack of knowledge about honey extraction timing
- Poor understanding of bee space management
Related Terms
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