I live in upstate NY and have been keeping bees
for six years. I switched to  screened bottom boards
in my second year, but placed them back on solid
bottom boards with an entrance reducer for the Winter.

  I have read recently that some studies show little
or no reduction in varroa infestation with the use of
screened bottom boards.

  I recently met a fellow who was the son of an
old-time beekeeper, and he showed me old hive bodies
with a 1/2" hole drilled through just over the front
hand-hold of the top super for ventilation in the
Winter. He said they used to plug it with a cork when
Spring came, and remove it for the Winter.

Charles Duquette
Greenville, NY 12083



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