What does the term "super" refer to in beekeeping?

The term "super" in beekeeping specifically refers to a box that is placed on top of a hive designed to hold frames for honey storage. This component is essential in the structure of a beehive, as it provides bees with additional space to store honey and pollen, particularly during periods of high nectar flow. Beekeepers add supers to encourage increased honey production, as bees will fill these boxes with honey when they have surplus resources.

Understanding the role of a super is crucial for beekeepers, especially during honey harvest time, as it determines how much honey can be collected without disturbing the main hive body where the queen and brood are located.