> The hive is of an interesting design, being 4 deep frames high and a
> single frame deep, but there are two such stacks each level joined by a
> short runway.  These are 90 degrees from each other giving the public 4
> different viewing angles.  There is then the obligatory runway to the
> outside.

> Traditionally the queens have been reluctant to use more than one side,
> apparently not wishing to cross one of the bridges, and the unit acts as
> a traditional 4 frame hive.  The population builds up and then we have
> swarms.  There has been some issues with SHB in the less used side as
> there are fewer bees to monitor the situation.

A few suggestions:

1) Downsize to one "side" or the other, or perhaps use them as two individual
    colonies.  While a long entrance tube (I've had sucess with even an 8-foot
    tube) does not seem to bother bees at all, the "connecting tunnel" clearly must
    go if the bees do not frequent the 2nd area.

2)  Restrict the queen to one frame of four, perhaps using one of the newer
     plastic queen excluders cut to fit in an appropriate slide in/slide-out slot.
     This alone should keep the population "under control".  One could even
     restrict the queen to one side of one frame, at least if plastic foundation
     were used to resist chew-throughs.

3)  While you are working out a modification for the queen excluder, think
      about how you might allow quick in-place access to the topmost frame,
      so that it can be removed and replaced with an empty frame or a frame
      of foundation when it becomes filled with stores.  If this is a time-consuming
      process, it won't get done.  If it is designed to be easy and quick, it can keep
      many house bees busy, and away from the brood area.

                jim