eke

An eke is a wooden or plastic ring or frame placed between hive boxes to create additional space without adding a full box. It typically measures 1.5 to 2 inches in depth and sits on top of the lower box, with the next box resting on top of it. Beekeepers use ekes to manage brood space, provide feeding room, or bridge gaps caused by warped boxes or uneven ground.

The most common application is in spring and early summer, when a colony needs more storage space for nectar and pollen but a full brood box or honey super would be overkill. An eke gives the bees roughly half the volume of an extra box, making it useful for adjusting space between inspections or before adding a full super. Some beekeepers also place an eke on top of the hive as a permanent feature to contain the inner cover and create a dead air space that helps with winter insulation.

Construction and placement

Ekes are typically made from wood (often pine) or rigid plastic, with interior dimensions matching the hive boxes they sit in, usually 10-frame or 8-frame width. A wooden eke may be a simple assembled frame with corner joints, sometimes with a plastic rim or metal band to prevent splitting. Plastic ekes are often one-piece molded units. The eke must sit flat and square on the box below to prevent propolis buildup and ensure the upper box rests securely.

Unlike entrance reducers or excluders, an eke does not restrict or filter bee movement, it simply provides space. However, beekeepers must account for the extra volume when estimating stores for winter, and must ensure the eke does not trap moisture or create a thermal dead zone that weakens cluster cohesion in cold months.

The word eke derives from the verb meaning to increase or supplement, reflecting its function of stretching hive capacity without a full box. In regional use, particularly in the United Kingdom, an eke may also be called a super spacer or simply a spacer, though these terms are less specific and may refer to other gap-fillers in the hive system.