Any opinions on using Foundation less frames in the heat we have in south Florida? I would like to transition to them but am concerned with heat issues.
The bees do a pretty good job of regulating the heat inside the hive. They use foundationless in Africa, after all, so Florida should work, as it does in South Texas.
If you string the frames with monofilament they will build on/around that and it offers a lot of extra support, especially if you are spinning honey from them.
You can also add pins on the sides to help support the wax.
Jim
105 here once in a while during the summer, and my bees seem to do fine with foundation-less.. However, I only use medium boxes. (6 5/8)
It was in the upper 110s F one summer in Western Nebraska. A week of 100+ F is not unusual here. I have no issues as long as I'm wise enough not to try to work a hive with new comb in it on a hot day where the wax gets soft from the excessive heat. The bees keep the inside 93 F. But once you open it up on a 100+ F day, the inside rises quickly to that outside temps and then the wax gets very soft...
Thanks for the input folks!!!
Any thoughts on solid bottom bars or using standard frames with grooves and wedging the tops as a guide?
With the reported frequency of SHB in south florida having that groove on the bottom might give them a place to hide but I have seen some forum discussions on other boards that poo poo the idea of needing a solid bottom bar and others that swear by it...........conflicting info is frustrating ;-)
>Any thoughts on solid bottom bars or using standard frames with grooves and wedging the tops as a guide?
I like solid bottom bars if I can get them. Kelley makes them. Their Type F frames will work nicely and have no groove.