Abstract

This study presents the design, fabrication, and field implementation of a thermal conditioning system for Langstroth hives of *Apis mellifera* under climatic conditions in the Maule Region, Chile. The system integrates an ATmega328P microcontroller, temperature and relative humidity sensors, a Peltier thermoelectric module, and an ONOFF control strategy with hysteresis. Field evaluations were conducted in Lircay and San Rafael over an annual cycle and in Hualañé during a 30-day winter period. In the thermally conditioned hives, internal temperatures ranged from 19.5 to 23.0 °C in Lircay and from 20.5 to 23.5 °C in San Rafael. The intervened hives also showed higher honey yields than the reference hives. However, due to the limited number of experimental units and the lack of sufficient replication, these differences cannot be interpreted as evidence of a causal effect of thermal conditioning on honey production. In Hualañé, qualitative observations indicated an apparently greater presence of active bees and early signs of oviposition. Overall, the findings demonstrate the technological feasibility of the proposed system for field application in central Chile. Nevertheless, further studies incorporating larger sample sizes, equivalent control groups, continuous monitoring, and statistical analysis are required to determine its thermal, biological, and productive effects.