Natupol Excel Bumblebee Hive

Natupol Excel Bumblebee Hive
The Natupol Excel hive delivers long-lasting, stable pollination for greenhouse growers whose crops produce blooms continuously or gradually. The Excel Hive is structured to deliver stable, ongoing pollination throughout a crop's continous bloom cycle. It is ideal for growers who need dependable pollination for several weeks rather than a strong early surge.

Use Natupol Excel For
Cherry Tomatoes
Snack Tomatoes
(Straw)berries
Growers who need steady & powerful pollination across production windows rather than a quick start flowering flush.

Packaging
One hive containing a complete bumblebee colony, including a queen, 75–100 workers, brood, and Bee Happy nectar bag.

When to Use Natupol Excel
Use this hive in greenhouse environments where crops produce ongoing flower production throughout the season. The Excel hive offers a longer-lasting pollination period than the start-up.

How Natupol Excel Works
Worker bumblebees begin pollinating as soon as the hive is opened. Over the following weeks, additional workers emerge and reinforce pollination. Beevision coloration enhances hive recognition, reducing drift and improving foraging efficiency. The improved visibility of the hives among the crop (Beevision) is based on the way bumblebees see; bumblebees more easily find the hive, fewer get lost in the greenhouse, and pollination improves.



How to Use Natupol Excel

A) Receiving and Unpacking
• Open the shipping container carefully and keep the hive between 60°F and 80°F until placement.
• You may lift the hinged lid to view the colony through the inner cover, but do not remove the insulation liner.
B) Placing the Hive
• Place the hive 8–24 inches above ground on a stable, level stand.
• Distribute hives evenly along the main path of the greenhouse.
• Place colonies on a horizontal platform to prevent nectar leakage.
• Summer placement: position the hive on the south side of a pathway to maximize natural shade. Add a cardboard A-frame if additional shading is required.
• Winter placement: position the hive higher in the crop on the north side of the main path so it receives the first daylight.
• Keep the hive out of direct sunlight and away from fans, vent intakes, or high-traffic locations.
• Wait at least 15 minutes after positioning before opening the entrance to allow the colony to settle.
C) Opening the Flight Door
• The hive arrives in the closed position.
• The middle position allows bees to return but not exit (useful when relocating the hive).
• The open position (tab pulled fully upward) is used for standard pollination activity.
• Leave the fiber tape covering the entrance in place; the bees will chew through it within 1–2 hours. After 24 hours, you may remove the tape if they have not.
D) Uncapping the Bee Happy Nectar Bag
• Remove the cardboard cover.
• Lift out the inner hive body.
• Remove the cap from the Bee Happy nectar bag.
• Return the hive body so the wick sits properly in position.
• Replace the cover.
• Open the flight door.

Best Working Conditions — Natupol Excel
Best performance occurs between 50°F and 86°F. Use the hive the day it arrives or within one day. Shading is essential in warm environments.

Handling
• For best performance, begin using the hive on the day it arrives or no later than the following day.
• Always protect the hive from direct sunlight.
Special Points of Attention
• Ensure hive entrances are visible to help bees orient and return effectively.
• Do not place more than two hives directly beside each other, and point entrances in different directions to reduce drift.
• Direct sunlight can raise internal hive temperatures by 5–15°C; shading is essential in warm conditions.
• Avoid placing the hive near CO₂ supply points or in areas where CO₂ levels may exceed 2,500 ppm.

Attention!
Natupol Bumblebee hives contain a “Bee Happy” nectar bag that has been capped for shipping. The bag must be uncapped before releasing the bees. Failure to uncap the bag will prevent colony development and cause rapid decline.
To uncap:
1. Remove the outer cardboard cover.
2. Carefully remove the inner plastic hive body.
3. Remove the cap from the Bee Happy nectar bag inside the cardboard frame.
4. Replace the inner hive body, ensuring the nectar wick fits correctly beneath it.
5. Replace the cardboard cover.
6. Open the hive’s entrance/exit.

Support
If you have any questions, please contact your consultant or call (800) 928-8827.