Linda Monteith asked:
Is there a screened bottom board being made?  Is it possible (give enough
support to the hive)?

I searched the archives and came up with some answers from other BEE-Lers

From Lloyd Spear:
16 JULY 1999

In the US an inexpensive mesh that is constructed to fit on top of a normal
bottom board is being sold by Betterbee (800-632-3379) and Brushy Mountain
(800-233-7929).  I understand that this somehow redirects the bees into the
hive, without them having access to the bottom board.  However, unless the
beekeeper has sticky paper (sprayed with food oil (Pam) or something
similar) to trap the mites, they are likely to find a way to catch a ride on
incoming bees.


From Aaron Morris on Ed Lord's experience with open bottom boards:
12 JAN 1999

Ed uses 1/8 inch hardware cloth to build double screen bottom boards for his
hives which he keeps atop pallets.  Initially he built these boards to
improve ventillation for his bees when he was moving them to Maine for
blueberry pollination.  So pleased was he with the results that he started
using these open bottom boards year round.  He feels that the improved
ventillation helps his bees through the winter, as there is no condensation
and subsequent moist/wet bottom boards.  Remember that his open bottoms sit
on top of pallets so even though the bottom board is hardware cloth, there
is still some wood to provide a modicum of winter protection.  Ed attributes
the loss of only one hive to his screened bottoms and that was due to a wind
tunnel effect that resulted from a combination of unfortunate placement and
an open upper entrance.  Upon inspection he discovered that the hive was
full of snow.


My own answer comes from a Swiss beekeeper I know who uses open varroa
floors himself.  As this is sort of a new thing in the States I was curious
about it.  He said the open bottoms have not had any ill effect for
overwintering. He lives near Geneva, so winters are pretty harsh.  His hives
are also in a bee house year round, so they are a little more protected than
if they were standing outside.

Hope that helps.

Katie Stepp
Student of apiculture




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