Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Ben Framed on August 14, 2020, 12:06:52 AM

Title: Queen Cages
Post by: Ben Framed on August 14, 2020, 12:06:52 AM
A just for curiosity, and a just because I wonder question. I have noticed when I order queens, the wooden queen cage has a mesh size that seems to be larger than window screen. It looks to be more like the screen of a package. Wonder why the breeders do not use the smaller mesh window screen?  Is it because the nurse bees on the outside can not feed through regular window screen? What is the mesh # of the queen cage screen? Thanks
Title: Re: Queen Cages
Post by: van from Arkansas on August 14, 2020, 10:07:31 AM
Count the squares per inch: either 12 or 16.  Number 8 is 1/8 inch or eight squares per inch.
Title: Re: Queen Cages
Post by: Ben Framed on August 14, 2020, 10:45:02 AM
Quote from: van from Arkansas on August 14, 2020, 10:07:31 AM
Count the squares per inch: either 12 or 16.  Number 8 is 1/8 inch or eight squares per inch.

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.  Thanks
Title: Re: Queen Cages
Post by: amymcg on August 14, 2020, 02:03:09 PM
My bet, and this is purely conjecture, is that hardware cloth is more durable and less likely to tear than window screen.


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Title: Re: Queen Cages
Post by: AR Beekeeper on August 14, 2020, 03:22:36 PM
My memory tells me the screen is seven mesh, and it is used to give the bees better contact with the queen.  Regular window screen is 16 mesh and would give very little contact.
Title: Re: Queen Cages
Post by: Ben Framed on August 14, 2020, 03:40:21 PM
Thanks Amy and Mr AR. Yes 7 to 16 is quite a difference. Wonder where, beside beekeeping number 7 is used any idea?