Blane White wrote:

> I do leave the mesh bottoms on and open during the winter and the do fine.  My colonies are on stands made of old redwood 4 X 4's and so are about 8 inches above the ground with plenty of room for air circulation under the hives.

Just to second Blane's results. My bees showed no difference at all in
productivity this summer after overwintering on screened bottoms in
Maine. They are about a foot above the ground on concrete blocks.
Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME