What is a nucleus hive (nuc)?

A nucleus hive, commonly referred to as a "nuc," is defined as a small bee colony that typically contains a queen, worker bees, and some brood (young bees). This compact structure allows beekeepers to use nucs effectively for specific purposes, like breeding or reinforcing an existing hive with additional bees. Nucs are particularly useful in colony management as they can serve as a way to propagate bees for new colonies or to bolster weaker hives, essentially providing a manageable way to facilitate growth and stability in a beekeeping operation.

In contrast, larger colonies focused primarily on honey production do not fit the nuc definition. A storage box is unrelated as it does not involve live bees or a functioning colony, and honey extraction machines focus on gathering honey rather than maintaining bee populations.