I have found that my bees round up and chase SHB pretty well. I know that SHB lay eggs in small cracks and other inaccessible areas. I would like to know what types of materials are safe for caulking up areas like the gaps on wooden bound queen excluders. I also have Mann Lake hive top :-D :shock:feeders the plastic twin tank type that provide lots of places for egg laying. I want to use expanding foam to completely seal off the complete underside of these things except for access to the syrup chambers. If I give the foam time to cure do any of you think this could harm my bees? Can latex caulk be used?
Use the latex caulk the foam will degenerate over time.
Elmer's wood filler.
I don't use that feeder, but after building a box, I put either glue or liquid nails in the joint cracks. Smooth it down with putty knife.
Joe
Hello,
I've used any kind of silicone filler in those gaps before and the bees are still alive. Today I bought a tub of plasti-bond which the neighbour recommended. I'd not heard of it before but apparently it has multiple uses, and bonds to a variety of surfaces. I specifically wanted it to repair a bottom board the bees chewed out, but I might start using it in other little gaps and defects in the hives. I don't know if it's toxic, but if the bees start making rock hard honey I'll know they've been licking it.
Lone
I mix Titebond 3 and saw dust for wood filler. You can mix the thickness you need or want!