Ventilation gap

[qa33010]

I don't know if this belongs here...

I have gapped my hive tops with popsicle (sp?) sticks.  There is still a lot of bearding at night (11:34 p.m. and 75 degrees).  I plan on increasing the gap but want to keep it less than 1/4" so it doesn't become another entrance.  Is there a gap limit that keep moths out? I know SHB get in the seemingly smallest crack and I have found blue and green colored beetles and wood roaches that have been killed and removed from the hives.  My concern right now is that the moths stay out.

Thanks,

           David

[Brian D. Bray]

one quick way to ventilate a hive is place screen over the bee escape hole in the inner cover then use a few short pieces 1X4 or othe dementional wood and replace the cover.  The hive is ventilated and still protected from rain.  Also, no second entrance is created that might cause the bees to use it and abandon the original entrance opening the hive to robbing or parasite invasion.

[keeper007]

There is still a lot of bearding at night (11:34 p.m. and 75 degrees).

           are u trying to prevent swarming or just ventilate?

[qa33010]

Keeper,

 Ventilate.  I use a SBB on all four hives.  I understand that bees naturally use water and bodies to control the hive environment and they are using many bodies for cooling.  Almost more than the entrance holds on two of them.  This has been causing, as I've been watching more when the temp hikes up, massive traffic jams in the entrance,  the guard girls are climbing over others to check out new arrivals and even the drones have problems going in and out for mating flights.

edit; Sorry... I'm hoping to free bodies up for pollen and nectar collection.
end edit.

They have been bringing in nectar and pollen (yes I tasted the nectar to make sure there was no water in the comb) and evidentally water steadily through out the day (surprisingly, I thought they stopped nectar AND pollen at high temps).

    Brian,

    Thanks for the idea.  I thought of something like that last year and was shot down and told not a good idea since they would propolis it right away.  I'll get to work right away.

David

[Brian D. Bray]

Also If your bees are bearding, meaning they are moving outside of the hive during the day to allow for air movement within the hive to maintain tmeperature and evaporate water from the nectar, you might try placing a slatted rack between the BB and the Brood Chamber.  This actually aids the bees allowing more to remain in position to to ventilate the hive while giving the bees space within the hive--this goes a long way in preventing or discouraging swarming due to overcrowding.