I read somewhere that over heating of hives could be a problem, that can be solved by putting a screen along the bottom of the hive, which would allow better air circulation, reduction of moisture buildup, and the mites that fall off the bees would fall through the screen.
I tried it and was met with my bees swarming and leaving the hive en masse about a month later. It occurred to me that perhaps I went about it all wrong. I didn't put anything below the screen to block off the light. Since hives are mostly dark inside, whether in trees or boxes, I am thinking this was an error.
It seems to me, if you block off the light, you also block off the ventilation you are trying to achieve. How would one construct a hive with a screen that blocks off the light, or should I ditch the idea and get rid of the screen altogether? G
I live in Florida and all I use are screened bottom boards. I never had a problem with my bees absconding. When was the last time you checked your mite count?
I hadn't checked it, because the bees which previously had been gentle, now were pissed off every time I looked in the hive. I have only had them for a few months, they were living in the wall of my house unknown to me, so I moved them into a hive and fed them in hopes they would survive (this was in december) they built a bunch of comb and had a lot of brood, so I cut back on the syruip, thinking they were doing well enough.
I didn't see any mites on the comb the last time I looked, so I have no good answer for you. They were very active - then the next time I checked, they had bailed.
I live in Los Angeles which gets toasty in the summer which is why I thought to try the screened hive.
G
There are many reports of packages absconding with screened bottom boards. I tried them once, didn't like them and went back to solid boards. Never have regretted it. I've never had a hive abscond. Bees also abscond when loaded with mites. You will never see them on the comb, you have to do a sugar shake or an alcohol wash [my preference and much more accurate]. That's the only way to know what the mite population is.
I use screened bottom boards and don't have a problem with absconding, but my first hive, over a solid bottom board, took off probably due to mites.
I do keep a sticky board ( rigid plastic sheet) in under my screen to make the bees feel secure and allow ventilation without creating a drafty broodnest. Also lets me monitor what is going on in the hive without taking the lid off.
Like politics, all beekeeping is local. You don't tell us where you are.
I tend to use my older, bought screened bottom boards in hot, dry locations; solids in dappled, woods, or wetter locations. As I expand, solid bottoms are easy to make and I feel better about over-wintering.
I have not personally experienced a correlation between screens and hive loss, but "I've heard tell of...". Beekeepers are a superstitious bunch and assign causations quickly and erroneously as we're dumber than a bunch of bugs.
I'm in Texas, don't know how to get that to display in this new forum format. All beekeeping truly is local
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beekeeping Forums
116K posts
4.4K members
Since 2008
A forum community dedicated to bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, health, behavior, housing, hives, care, classifieds, and more!