Foundationless frames - South Florida

[KeyLargoBees]

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.

[Dallasbeek]

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.

[tjc1]

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.

[BeeMaster2]

You can also add pins on the sides to help support the wax.
Jim

[OldMech]

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)

[Michael Bush]

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...

[KeyLargoBees]

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 ;-)

[Michael Bush]

>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.