On Tue, 27 Sep 2016 10:01:19 -0400, Justin Kay <[log in to unmask]>  
wrote:

> But it requires the use of a screened bottom board, which I despise.  
> Makes treating for varroa with OA vapor, Formic, or thymol nearly  
> impossible.

Have you considered a solid bottom board under the screened one? Got this  
idea from Chris Hayes at one of his workshops. The only thing open to the  
elements is the space between the two boards on one end (I reverse the  
direction of the solid board, so that its "opening" is to the back of the  
hive). Makes it easy to close it when vaporizing, treating with Api Var or  
when preparing for winter - I just stuff a length of a 1/4" pipe foam  
insulation which fits just right into the slot.

Now, does it negate the efficacy of a screened board? Are mites able to  
crawl 3+ inches through the junk that accumulates on the solid board  
below? Don't know, but I doubt it and all my hives are strong. Though I  
notice a few SHBs here and there, I've never had to deal with an overrun  
hive because of SHB (my hives are 2 hours north of NYC). We've had an  
exceptional drought condition in NY this past few weeks, so perhaps that's  
also keeping SHB in check - bees are intensely patrolling the periphery of  
each hive against all robbers.

And as someone has already pointed out, squishing the isolated SHBs on the  
inner cover makes a satisfying sound under one's thumb, :-)

Przemek
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