For your enclosed apiary project, you will be working with heavy-duty fabric and thread, which means you need a heavy-duty needle. (Actually, you need more than one, because they sometimes break.) The size of the thread determines the size of the needle that should be used. As a general rule, the eye of the needle should be abut 60% larger than the thread. 

Needle size is typically shown as two numbers on the packaging. The first number refers to the diameter of the needle shaft in millimeters (where .90 is shown as 90). The second number refers to the corresponding U.S. size. 

For best results, use needles that are made for your specific sewing machine. When in doubt, check your sewing machine manual!