Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[Trusty Scout]

I need to build a new TBH and have ample access to red cedar wood. (Juniperus virginiana) As most know, this type of "aromatic" wood repels moths but my question is: is it bad for bees? Will it cause the bees to flee once they are placed in the hive box? Does the wood have a negative effect on the honey?

[BridgetB]

It is really lovely wood, excellent for hives and the bees seem very content with it. Fantastic aroma as you build the hive, but the smell does go with age. It doesn't seem to repel wax moths either. One of my empty hives was badly infected with it and needed thorough cleaning and scorching.

[Smorning]

You are blessed it's the best wood for hives in the the UK if I had a supply of red cedar I would be overjoyed best of luck with your hives

[biobee]

The wood you want is Western Red Cedar, which is not in fact a cedar at all, but a member of the Cypress family.

Juniperus virginiana is aromatic and insect repellant: hardly ideal for building bee hives!

[pkalisz]

If you search a variety of beekeeping forums you will find that lots of beekeepers use Juniperus virginiana woodenware. I successfully keep bees in topbar hives and regularly trap swarms in bait traps made from this species. Over the years I have also seen feral colonies in J. virginiana cavities about as often as in other tree species, proportionately speaking. The bees don't seem to mind the volatile aromatics that J. virginiana is famous for. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) and Eastern Red Cedar are both in the cypress family (Cupressaceae).

[J Smith]

Macrocarpa, or Monterey Cypress is also from the same family, Cupressus. It is a native of California, imported and grown as an exotic here in NZ.
Yes, it is insect repellent- to common wood boring insects, not insects using it as a home. It is aromatic when milled/cut/dressed, but once air dried it is quite mundane and neutral smelling, but the high aromatic resin content is unliked by wood boring insects.
Macrocarpa would be one of the most used hive timbers here, because it is exotic (cheaper and easier to get than Native timbers), readily available, weather resistant (to a degree) and does not require further treatment to protect from wood boring insects- a process that can cause great harm to resident bees.

Having worked with timber all of my professional career, I would not hesitate to use Cypress type untreated timbers for hive construction. In my opinion they are a much better choice than some of the untreated Pine species.

[ourMikeGeorge]

I may be able to get some untreated oak at a good price. Would that be suitable?

[biobee]

Oak is prone to warping, twisting and splitting, and it is very heavy.

Apart from that, it's fine!