Varroamite Inspection Panel

[StarrGin]

It's probably a silly question, but I haven't found an obvious answer.

My hives (Brushy Mountain English Garden) have a screen bottom and a slot for a varroamite inspection panel.
Should this panel be in or out for normal hive use?

Jesse. :?

[iddee]

With it in, the shb and wax moth will raise on it.
With it out, the grass will grow up through the hive.
Your choice.

[BjornBee]

It's a piece of bee equipment that has a purpose. It's there to see what is happening in the hive. You can do mite counts, but you can also see what the bees are bringing in, fecal matter from SHB or wax moths, whether the bees are eating honey as compared to bring in nectar, and so on. Some even like the added benefit of at least having the option to keep it open for ventilation purposes.

Yes, if you do absolutely nothing all summer, the thing will become full of crap and wax moths will use it. But I hope you are a much better beekeeper than that. It's easy to clean off as part of any regular visit to the hive.

I would also suggest finding some way to keep the grass down around the hive, which is easy and a great benefit to the hives. I think it's a reach on the negative side of the conversation to suggest a detrimental issue with SBB is grass growing up through the hives.

[iddee]

We all have our thoughts on any piece of equipment, but I have seen a steady increase in beeks who are returning to the solid bottom board on their hives. Myself included.

Next thing you know, it will rank right up there with the queen excluder in controversy.

Maybe even with marking queens.   :evil:  :evil:  :-D  :-D

[Kathyp]

in the summer, the boards should be out.  put them in for mite counts.  if you leave them in, you might as well save some money and buy solid boards :-)

i have both solid and screened bottom boards.  the bees seem to do equally well on both.  for me, the screened boards have some advantages. 

if you want to check for mites, the screen boards are better
if you want to see what kind of gunk, pollen, wax, etc. is being dropped, screened are better
for swarm catching, screened are better.
mice tend to nest between the slide in and the screen, rather than nesting inside the hive.

solid boards are easier to manage in the winter although the dead bee build up is stinkier. 
solid boards are less bulky and store easier.
solid boards seem to hold up longer.
solid boards do not allow as much wind to blow in and probably keep the hive warmer in winter.

i have more hives on solid boards this year because i ran out of screened boards.  i'll be interested to see how the hives compare this winter and spring build up.

[slacker361]

so I am assuming that the inspection board should be put in in the winter?

[BjornBee]

We all have our thoughts on any piece of equipment, but I have seen a steady increase in beeks who are returning to the solid bottom board on their hives. Myself included.

Next thing you know, it will rank right up there with the queen excluder in controversy.

Maybe even with marking queens.   :evil:  :evil:  :-D  :-D

I'd return to solid bottom also if I had the same problem you suggest, perhaps through your own experience.

But just like the queen excluder, there are many bee devices that seem too complicated for some to overcome.  :roll:

And please do not let those SBB or queen excluders go to waste. And please don't sell something to another you can't competently use yourself. Don't pass on junk and gimmicks to others. Send them instead to me....address can be found on the website.... :-D

[BjornBee]

so I am assuming that the inspection board should be put in in the winter?

I think it's probably a good thing to close them up in winter, even though I do not.

I have people say all the time...."What about the wind in winter?"

I respond..."Wind....., why should that matter? If you did your job and selected a good apiary location taking into account the fact that your hives should not be exposed to wind regardless of whether you use SBB or solid bottoms, it should not matter"

Of course I bet those are the same people who let their hives with SBBs be overrun with grass growing up through the screens.  :-D

[Kathyp]

If you did your job and selected a good apiary location taking into account the fact that your hives should not be exposed to wind regardless of whether you use SBB or solid bottoms, it should not matter"

unless you live in a place where getting out of the wind is not an option.   ;)

[AllenF]

so I am assuming that the inspection board should be put in in the winter?

I left all my screen bottoms open all winter this year.   I did use reducers for the mice.   

[BjornBee]

If you did your job and selected a good apiary location taking into account the fact that your hives should not be exposed to wind regardless of whether you use SBB or solid bottoms, it should not matter"

unless you live in a place where getting out of the wind is not an option.   ;)

Oh come on.

Ever hear of a person building a doghouse, or placing a fence up to keep the dog in the yard. The same can be said about horses, chickens or anything else. You build, buy, or do what you need to do to take care of them. I don't buy into the fact that a person is completely helpless or unable to provide the windbreak or other ample protection for the bees against winter winds.

People do what they need too with about everything else, but when it comes to bees, use the excuse that they have no option or ability to protect bees from the wind, especially when we know that wind in very detrimental to the hive's ability to over winter.

You pick the best spot, then do what is needed to protect from winter winds. My point was that if your going to leave your bees out in the open field with no protection, it may not mean much as to whether your bees have SBB or not. Long before SBB were being used on a scale they are today, it was common knowledge that wind is a killer of hives. It probably has to do with that R-factor of 1 with pine wood and the massive heat loss that it allows.

I do not buy into the "I'm a beekeeper, and have no way of protecting my bees". If you can not do that, then maybe you shouldn't keep bees. And I feel the same way about any other animal or pet. If you can't properly keep them, then get rid of them.

[Kathyp]

oh, i have a wind break.  i also have winds during the winter that are pretty consistently 20mph or better.  they also don't always come from one direction.  my windbreak protects from the direction of the worst winter winds.  short of putting them under cover for the winter, that's as good as it gets.  they seem to do fine, so i guess i have done my job ok.

they are in a field and on the top of the hill.  for the majority of the year, that is the very best place for them to be.

[BjornBee]

  they seem to do fine, so i guess i have done my job ok.

Didn't doubt that for a minute.... ;)

I just wanted to keep it at "what can be done" compared to even mentioning things that are used as excuses. There are always options.  :-D

[slacker361]

what is your feeling on those hive wraps for the winter

[AllenF]

They require less stores to get through the winter with hive wraps on.  Well for northern hives.   They eat less, and it improves survival rates, some.  I would use them if I was not here in Georgia.