A Langstroth hive with top bars instead of frames, for tropical African bees 

Peter D Paterson

The inspiration for top-bar hives instead of hives with rectangular frames came from the traditional Greek basket hive. This hive (Fig. I), introduced into Zimbabwe by Papadopaulo, has inward sloping side walls to which the bees do not attach their combs. The rap-bars are of unequal length.