Metal Queen Excluders and SHB

[Ben Framed]

Have any of you in SHB territory, noticed SHB using the space in the grooves (where the slats and ends are joined leaving a crevice as a hiding place), in your metal queen excluders?

[Oldbeavo]

You would be lucky to find a SHB around the QX as there is too much activity for them.
Outside frames, under the lid, or at the end of frames where the lugs are. Our bees tend to hassle them if they catch them in the open.

[Ben Framed]

You would be lucky to find a SHB around the QX as there is too much activity for them.
Outside frames, under the lid, or at the end of frames where the lugs are. Our bees tend to hassle them if they catch them in the open.

Thank you OldBeavo

Phillip

[Bee North]

Have any of you in SHB territory, noticed SHB using the space in the grooves (where the slats and ends are joined leaving a crevice as a hiding place), in your metal queen excluders?

Yes....sometimes a lot
I have found that the bees use propolis to fill the gap.
Some designs are worse than others.
I give strong colonies the new excluder to fill the gap. Once filled with propolis no issues.

[Ben Framed]

Have any of you in SHB territory, noticed SHB using the space in the grooves (where the slats and ends are joined leaving a crevice as a hiding place), in your metal queen excluders?

Yes....sometimes a lot
I have found that the bees use propolis to fill the gap.
Some designs are worse than others.
I give strong colonies the new excluder to fill the gap. Once filled with propolis no issues.

Thanks Bee North, that also eases my mind. To explain, I ask the advise of a friend who lives further North about which he recommended that I purchase, metal or plastic. I suppose neither he nor I considered the geographical difference in our locations as we discussed the advantages of metal. He lives where SHB are not prevalent. I am satisfied I did the right thing for the long run. I appreciate both your and Oldbeavos answers.

Phillip Hall

[Acebird]

Help them out and fill the gaps with wax so they cannot hide.

[Oldbeavo]

Buy metal, all of the original cheap plastic have gone.
Buckle with the warmth in the hive.
Edges get brittle on the exposed edges if not enough UV stabiliser in them.
Stick to the super when you try to part them when taking super off.
Plastic are a general pain in the rear end.

[Ben Framed]

Buy metal, all of the original cheap plastic have gone.
Buckle with the warmth in the hive.
Edges get brittle on the exposed edges if not enough UV stabiliser in them.
Stick to the super when you try to part them when taking super off.
Plastic are a general pain in the rear end.

Yes, I am happy that I listened to the recommendation of my friend and bought the metal, even though I noticed the easy hiding places for beetles, opening my only concern. As Bee North explained, the bees will take care of that if necessary. I am happy, happy, happy as Phil Robertson might say. lol   I should have these in service for a good long time. Thanks all, and especially thank you my friend who recommended the metal in the first place, you have never steered me wrong. 

[BeeMaster2]

Ben,
You do want a plastic excluder available. I use them to make temporary queen includers for swarms. For nucs, I have round sections out of one and staple it over the entrance for a couple of days. On nucs with bottom entrances, I cut a rectangular one and staple it on. The first time I cut one was when I made my observation hive. The entrance has 3 positions, open , closed and queen excluder which is a round piece glued in. I never use them for queen/honey excluders bee t I do use them to keep the queen in.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

Thanks Jim, I am going to be sure to take your advice for the very reasons you suggested. A few plastic ones on hand for those reasons, plus a project that I have coming up, will be just what is needed. Thanks