All;

 

Swarm season is just beginning here in central North Carolina and I am
keeping a close eye on my bees.  I switched back from screened bottoms last
summer to solid bottoms after 10-12 years of screened bottoms in an attempt
to help with Varroa management.  I have several observations to make:  I got
the best mite control ever last summer using formic flash treatments
(http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa/FAFumigat.pdf) in large part because I
was able to seal the bottom of the hive using an entrance reducer.  I had
never been able to properly seal a screened bottom.   I am seeing brood
extended to the very bottom of the lower hive body frames and sometimes
below with drone bridge comb with the solid bottoms and fitted entrance
reducers.  I think the screened bottom was just too cold as I never saw
brood that low with screens.  I do have to be vigilant to tilt all hives
forward because water will collect in the solid bottoms - something that was
nice about screened bottoms.   I also have to scrape the solid bottoms in
some hives as hive debris and pollen substitute has accumulated and becomes
beetle bait.  I am very pleased with the results of the solid bottoms.

 

Bill Lord

Louisburg, NC


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