can bees fit through 1/4" hardware cloth?

hoku · February 03, 2009, 07:18:43 PM

Im having trouble searching and finding this answer. thanks.

TwT · February 03, 2009, 09:02:36 PM

very easily, they have no trouble going through it, most use it for mouse guards, you will need number 7-8 hardware cloth for bee's not to go through, some go through number 7 but 8 is to small. think I got my numbers right, sure some will correct me if I am wrong, but 1/4 inch bee's will go through with no problem.

Michael Bush · February 03, 2009, 10:15:47 PM

Worker bees can fit through #7 if there is a bent wire. Workers can fit through #6 but it's a squeeze and they can't get pollen through it. Workers can fit through #5 and it's a squeeze but they can get about half their pollen through it. Workers and drones can fit through #4. Some workers will lose pollen just because it caught and popped out, but the won't lose much.

Scadsobees · February 04, 2009, 10:08:26 AM

I use 1/4" for mouse guards. Theoretically mice can get through that but its never been a problem for me.

mherndon · February 04, 2009, 08:02:07 PM

Can a queen go through 1/4 inch? I was thinking about using it in an Ulster Observation hive as a queen excluder, just to keep the queen in the top for the kids to see her.

Mark

TwT · February 04, 2009, 08:12:41 PM

Quote from: mherndon on February 04, 2009, 08:02:07 PM
Can a queen go through 1/4 inch? I was thinking about using it in an Ulster Observation hive as a queen excluder, just to keep the queen in the top for the kids to see her.

Mark

SURE!!! any bee can go through 1/4" ,bumble bee's is the only I dont think could.

Michael Bush · February 04, 2009, 08:48:37 PM

>Can a queen go through 1/4 inch?

Yes. In Africa they typically use #5 hardware cloth for excluders.

JP · February 05, 2009, 12:03:50 AM

My buddy Bailey hasn't chimed in yet so I will speak on his behalf. He had experimented with 1/4" making sbbs cause it was a pain locating #7 cloth. He sent me a picture one day on my cellphone of one of those hives that built completely through the 1/4" with comb extending down and through the hive stand by at least 7-8". It was quite a sight! He has sinced changed over to #7.

...JP