Nuc?

[homer]

So I am readling lots on here about "nucs".  Is it just a very small hive, or is there more to it than that?

Also, could someone tell me what SHB larvae is please!

[Pond Creek Farm]

A nuc could be described as a very small hive, but it is really the nucleus of a hive: the core if you will. Often a nuc consists of five frames of honey and brood as well as the bees that would cover those frames.  A nuc is not a full hive that will over-winter, but given sufficuent time, it will grow into such a hive.  Consider a nuc an intermediate step between a package and a fully developed hive.  Nucs serve other purposes as well, I understand, such as swarm prevention and providing resources for emergency situations, bit others are far more knowledgable about these things than I.

[HAB]

SHB Small Hive Beetle

For a good idea about a nuc  check this out=
  www.gabees.com/store/index.php?cPath=40&osCsid=e809a03df99c6ae4ef5d80d6d102e0ae   

[knob21]

So it would be a good idea to always have an empty one on hand?

[Moonshae]

An empty one and a full one. If a hive goes queenless, you've got a ready replacement. Let the nuc raise a new one, or let it sit without one while you order a new one. The empties are great for splitting down a hive that's going to swarm...make sure the queen and some bees go into a nuc, then you can split up the rest of the frames with a swarm cell each, and have a bunch that in a month or so will be ready to go into full hives.

[dpence]

Nuc boxes are really handy.  Not only for making splits but also for capturing swarms, mating queens etc.  I recommend keeping a few five frame models on hand.

David