apishold® Climate Systems
Innovation for healthy bees and an efficient apiary.
Optimal climate control for the beehive
Beekeepers can support the bees’ natural thermoregulation with smart hive designs.
The apishold® non-stick cover foil and reflective foil are innovative climate foils developed specifically to optimize conditions inside the beehive. These functional foils play an important role in balanced moisture management and improved insulation.”
The videos are in German; please use the settings to switch the subtitles to English.
—> Bee Research Podcast on Youtube
The video is in German, please use the settings to switch the subtitles to English.
Our Products
The Breathable, Non-Stick Cover Foil from apishold®
The apishold® cover foil is a transparent, non-stick sheet designed to keep your hive’s climate stable and your bees comfortable. It minimizes stress during inspections and supports healthy colony conditions. Perfect for hives with climate lids, but even on its own, it delivers clear advantages that every beekeeper will appreciate.
Benefits of the apishold® Non-Stick Cover Foil:
Moisture Control & Diffusion – The foil allows humidity to escape in a controlled way, preventing condensation in critical areas and maintaining a dry, stable hive climate that helps stop mold formation. A minimal gap (0.5–1 mm) between the foil and hive edges also supports upward diffusion.
Durable & Long-Lasting – Made from high-quality, tear-resistant material, the foil is built to withstand demanding conditions while remaining easy to handle.
Non-Stick Surface – Easily removable and bee-friendly, it ensures smooth handling without disturbing the colony.
Crystal-Clear Transparency – Enables stress-free hive inspections. Beekeepers can observe the inside of the hive without opening it or disrupting the bees.
Bee-Safe Design – Engineered so bees cannot damage it or render it unusable with propolis or wax. Its functional details guarantee reliable, long-term use.
Enhanced Climate Management – For even better insulation and hive climate control, the cover foil can be combined with apishold® reflective fleece for sustainable thermal management.
The Reflective Fleece from apishold®
The reflective foil is a cost-effective and highly efficient addition for reducing heat loss inside the hive. By stabilizing the hive climate in critical areas, it benefits both the bees and the beekeeper.
Benefits of the apishold® Reflective Fleece
Reflective Heat Management – The foil is designed to reflect heat that would otherwise escape in all directions back into the hive interior, increasing the energy efficiency of existing hive systems.
Example Application on the Varroa Tray – We recommend using the reflective fleece in combination with the apishold® cover foil (e.g., on the Varroa tray) to minimize heat loss through the hive floor.
Practical Benefits – The foil is easy to handle and helps maintain a stable internal hive climate, especially during the colder months.
Energy Savings – A Win for Bees and Beekeepers – The reflective fleece reduces the energy bees must expend to heat the hive, preserving their vital reserves.
Enhanced Control – Its reflective properties also make hive inspection and management easier for the beekeeper.
Hive Optimization – The reflective fleece is part of our modular climate system, designed to improve insulation and climate regulation when combined with other elements like the climate apron, climate cover, and climate floor.
Apishold Zero Energy (Design subject to change) – The Next Generation of Beehives
Available from February 2026: Our fully insulated, diffusion-open Zero Energy Hive creates a stable microclimate for your bees—entirely passive, powered by natural physical principles. Inspired by the climate regulation of natural tree cavities, it combines thoughtful design with sustainable materials.
Patent pending – for healthy colonies, higher yields, and beekeeping in harmony with nature.
apishold® Zero Energy Complete Hive (expected February 2026)
Benefits of the apishold® Zero Energy Hive
Stable Microclimate – Optimal temperature and humidity regulation for healthy bee colonies
Purely Physical Functionality – Fully passive, requiring no external energy
Diffusion-Open Design – Prevents moisture buildup and mold formation
Fully Insulated – Minimizes heat loss in winter and overheating in summer
Sustainable Materials – Durable, eco-friendly, and resource-efficient
Nature-Inspired – Climate principles of natural tree cavities translated into modern design
Patent Pending – Protecting an innovative solution for contemporary beekeeping
Low Maintenance – Robust, easy to care for, and weather-resistant
Increased Yield Potential – Supports stronger colony development and higher honey production
FAQs
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The foil is positioned with a minimal gap (0.5–1 mm) between the edges, allowing for additional upward diffusion.
It’s designed to strike the perfect balance between moisture management and insulation, ensuring a stable and healthy hive environment.
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In combination with other elements such as the climate cover and the climate apron, the diffusion foil supports the overall efficiency of the hive.
It is part of a broader strategy to improve living conditions in modern hives and can be combined with other innovative materials, such as reflective fleeces.
Where to get the foils
The apishold® foils are exclusively available through beekeeping supply stores. Here are the shops that currently carry them. If the product is not yet listed in their online shop or catalog, please contact the stores directly via email:
(As of February 2025)
Germany:
Honig & Imkereibedarf Maier, Owner: Stefan Maier
Austria:
Imkerhof Salzburg
Bienen Janisch GmbH
Switzerland:
Bienen Meier AG
USA:
Coming soon through our new distribution point in Colorado. For details, please send an email to our broker.
Weight & Size: 0.44 lbs (0.20 kg), Dimensions: 39 × 20 in (100 × 50 cm)
Perfect for beekeepers who want to provide optimal conditions for their bees while maintaining control over the hive’s microclimate.
👉 Order now and sustainably optimize your bees’ climate! 🐝🍯
Are you the owner of a beekeeping supply store and interested in offering apishold® foils in your assortment?
Or do you work for a research institute and want to learn more about our studies?
Testimonial from a User
“I tried the perforated, siliconized foil and I’m thrilled with it. Even in spring, with rapidly changing outside temperatures and strong brood, I don’t get wet frames or anything like that—just a tiny bit of condensation in the corners, but no dripping. What’s especially important is that it doesn’t stick to the wax bridges. I also love that it’s transparent, so I don’t have to open the hive to take a quick look inside. Even now, when assessing the honey supers, it’s a huge advantage.”
- Uwe Lachmann, Schwielowsee
apishold® Team
ao. Prof. Dipl. Biol. Dr. Thorsten Schwerte
Institut of Zoologie, University Innsbruck
CEO
Stefanie Jäger, MSc, BSc.
Head of Research
CRO
DI Peter Linser
Architect, Bee Habitat Design & Hive Innovation
CTO
Universität Innsbruck
Study, Research & Education
Energy Use and Costs of Thermoregulation
Bees are often called “warm-blooded” superorganisms. This term highlights their ability to thermoregulate, allowing them to maintain a relatively constant temperature inside the hive—a key aspect of their survival strategy. But is this really accurate? Not quite. Technically, honeybees are not warm-blooded in the classic sense, like mammals or birds.
They are insects generally classified as poikilothermic (cold-blooded), meaning their body temperature largely depends on the surrounding environment.
However, bees do exhibit remarkable thermoregulatory abilities that allow them to actively control the temperature inside their hive:
Thermoregulation in the Hive: Bees can precisely regulate the temperature within the hive, particularly around the brood area, keeping it optimal for larval development. They achieve this through various behaviors, such as generating heat by shivering their flight muscles or cooling through wing fanning and water evaporation.
Winter Clustering: In winter, bees form a tight cluster around the queen and brood to conserve and generate heat. This cluster can actively raise the bees’ body temperature to prevent chilling.
Heating via Muscle Activity: Certain bees, known as “heater bees,” increase their body temperature through intense muscle activity, beyond their normal metabolic rate, to selectively warm specific areas of the hive.
These abilities make bees a true “superorganism,” capable of collectively creating a relatively stable and controlled microclimate—crucial for brood development and colony survival. Yet despite these impressive temperature control strategies, bees are not technically warm-blooded.
All these abilities are vital for survival, but they come at a cost: thermoregulation requires energy—energy drawn from honey stores or other biological reserves.
Flying is the most energy-intensive activity for bees, closely followed by heating the hive.
Energy balance: A strong bee colony can produce up to 660 lbs (300 kg) of honey in a summer, which serves as fuel for thermoregulation.
Heating duties: In summer, bees heat the brood; in winter, the winter cluster is heated to keep the colony in survival mode.
Seasonal energy use: Around 480,000 kcal (≈ 2 million kJ) are “burned” for heating in a single season—roughly two-thirds of a colony’s total energy expenditure.
A poorly insulated hive loses a lot of heat, increasing the bees’ heating requirements and, consequently, honey consumption. Conversely, a hive that is too airtight can trap moisture, promoting mold or brood diseases. A well-designed hive reduces these issues and helps bees save energy.
Optimizing Hive Design for Better Thermoregulation
Insulation and Heat Protection:
Natural bee habitats—such as soil, rock, and tree cavities—offer excellent protection from heat, helping maintain stable temperatures over days and even weeks.
Beekeepers can mimic these natural conditions by using materials that provide similar climate-regulating properties.
Insulating the walls of a hive with materials like cork, wood fibers, or mineral wool can help reduce temperature fluctuations and lower the energy bees need for thermoregulation.
Media on Heat and Climate Management in Beehives
(The video is in German, please use the settings to switch the subtitles to English.)
“We can learn a great deal from the thermoregulation of bees and combine it with principles from modern building science. Good insulation reduces heat loss in winter and prevents overheating in summer.”
— Dr. Thorsten Schwerte
Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck
