Jambage® Frame

The Jambage® Frame consists of a standard frame without wires and a diagonal bar. This bar not only divides the frame's space into two areas but also reinforces the wax structure built by the bees, allowing for an equitable distribution of work and load across two distinct zones.

This frame contrasts with conventional methods that confine bees to the exclusive production of worker brood through preformed wax sheets. Introducing the Jambage® Frame into the hive, a natural tendency of the bees to build drone cells is observed, seeking to rebalance the ratio between drone and worker cells to a more natural ratio of 30%/20% for drones and 70%/80% for workers.

Far from being a drawback, the increased presence of drones brings significant advantages. They contribute to the thermal well-being of the colony and act as a stimulus for the workers. Subsequently, as the balance between drones and workers is restored, bees utilize the empty drone cells to store pollen and honey, optimizing space use within the hive.

Developed by Bernard Nicollet in 2005, the Jambage® Frame facilitates more intuitive and natural beekeeping. By allowing bees to build wax without predefined patterns, their constructive instinct is enhanced, improving the queen's space management for laying and harmonizing drone production according to the colony's needs. The use of drone cells as additional reservoirs prevents the queen's laying from being blocked by food storage in worker cells.

For installation, it is advised to attach a 1.5 cm wax strip at the top of the frame, using hot liquid wax for fixation. This method eliminates the need for wires, promoting complete autonomy in wax construction by the bees and allowing them to decide the optimal structure for their needs. This freedom results in the construction from the bottom part of the frame towards the center, meeting at the diagonal bar, underscoring a more natural and effective construction methodology.

The Jambage® Frame not only minimizes exposure to wax contamination, as the wax is produced entirely by the bees from scratch, but also facilitates efficient frame renewal without affecting honey production.

Usage tips: To prevent colony division, it is recommended not to place the Jambage® Frame in the center of the brood nest initially but rather at the ends. A reserve frame should be placed nearby, ensuring that bees have immediate access to abundant honey reserves and thus avoiding the need to traverse the hive. Additionally, placing two Jambage® Frames next to each other is discouraged to prevent undesired constructions by the bees.