For short distances, under half an hour, I used window screen wedges
placed in the intrance to restrict egress of the hive bees.  I also moved
my hives at night.  The screen wedge was formed by bending screen wire
that is of equal width as the entrance width in half, then bending a
small upward facing lip on the edge of the top side of the folded
screen.  The depth of the screen, when inserted into the hive, went over
half way to the back of the hive.  Hope this explanation is clear enough
for you to construct if you like the idea.  If not, e-mail me at
[log in to unmask]   MIKE STOOPS
 
On Thu, 22 Jun 1995, Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter wrote:
 
> In a message dated 95-06-22 08:40:49 EDT, [log in to unmask] (Kelley
> Rosenlund) wrote:
>
> >2. When you move your hives from field to field, do you screen the
> >hive
> >entrance to keep the bees in?
>
>      I can't help with the question about mosaic, but would be extremely
> interested in others' responses.
>
>    Re: your second question.  In hot weather it is extremely risky to close
> up hives.  When they discover they can't get out, they become exited.  That
> creates more heat, which gets them more excited.  You can get a runaway chain
> reaction, which can actually melt down comb.  Of course before that happens
> brood is dead, and the bees will probably not be able to recover from the
> loss without heroic salvage methods.  You'll have to remove the dead brood,
> feed heavily, and watch to see if the queen was damaged or lost.
>
>    Late afternoon/evening, when bees are basically done flying, is the best
> time to load, and morning is the best time to unload, if it can be planned
> that way.  As long as the truck is moving, even in daylight, bees will not
> fly unless they are dangerously overheated.  Be liberal about hosing down the
> load. For long distance hauls crushed ice is also a possibility.  Put it on
> top, so it drips down among the hives.
>
>    If you can net the whole load (some states require this), it is far better
> than closing up individual hives.  But be prepared for some mighty mean bees
> when you pull the net.  I like to unnet the load first, then move a couple
> hundred feet to get away from the irate ones before unloading the hives.
>
>    If you must close up hives, and the weather is hot, you need to have top
> screens to replace the covers.  Hope this helps.
>
> [log in to unmask]                  Dave Green
> PO Box 1215
> Hemingway,  SC  29554
>