Lloyd Wrote:
>
>For reasons that are not clear to me, both Kelley and Dadant show the
>screens on top of normal bottom boards, implying that they are designed to
>be used in that manner.  Because wax moths find the area between the screen
>and the bottom board to be a lunch table, I feel pretty strongly that this
>is not an appropriate use.  In addition, bottom boards cost money!
>
>I have previously reported that my bees over winter well here in upstate NY
>with only a screen on the bottom of the hive.

I agree that a bottomboard under the screen would allow the fallen mites the
chance to come back through the screen and re-attach to thier host, unless
they are somehow trapped with a sticky board or other means.  Does your
screen attach to a frame which acts as the bottom board or does the screen
attach directly to the bottom of the hive body with a spacer allowing
entrance on one side?
Please advise

Marc Studebaker
Geneva, IN