Bees on inspection board

[Levitt53]

I put the inspection boards in my two hives yesterday. I had a random quick peek today and there are about 20 dead or dying bees on the wooden one. None at all on the poly hive's board. It's been nice and warm and sunny here for a few days and there are loads of bees out and some pollen going in so all seems ok. This hive had fondant about a month ago and I topped it up a few days ago. Any ideas why?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Is there a gap for the bees to get in? Silly obviously yes
I have quite a gap between my inspection trays and the floor and there are always some that get caught out

 

[Levitt53]

Lol ok yes maybe. I'll check tomorrow and try and block it if there is.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Bees cannot get through an Open Mesh Floor. That being the case, they must have got there via the access gap for the monitoring (inspection) board. I suppose if a flight of inexperienced bees find the hive smell via some place other than the normal entrance, they will try that route and possibly die in the attempt, particularly under a colder wooden hive.

There a gap at the rear of my OMFs but I have not had a problem with bees getting onto the monitoring board and staying there.

CVB

 

[masterBK]

I have noticed this problem mainly on cold days. I think having landed on the insert they can't get back up to flying temperature and die there. I have also noticed that bees (and ants) go there to feed on the sugar crystals (from Ivy or OSR stores) dropping through the mesh

 

[Levitt53]

I think I'll just pull it back 1cm then hopefully they won't make that mistake. That won't make much different to the results of the inspection. Thanks.

 

[Heather]

Inspection board should only be there 2-3 days anyway. What are you checking on now? Varroa estimation should be done and dusted. I suggest all boards now stored away, clean and ready for May/June 3 day check.

 

[rdmw]

I found the same thing this morning
I think they are attracted to the sugar crystal that have dropped through the omf and then they are confused and can't find their way back
I have been leaving my "yellows" in and doing a weekly check for mite fall really out of interest after my sublimation treatment I January. Today my weekly mite count in four hives was 0,0,1,0 so that is good
I will take the yellows off and check in a month


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[Heather]

Inspection is inspection, not a permanent feature.
If close fitting they will inhibit ventilation and maybe allow damp build up.. bees don't mind cold but damp can be fatal.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Inspection board should only be there 2-3 days anyway. What are you checking on now? Varroa estimation should be done and dusted. I suggest all boards now stored away, clean and ready for May/June 3 day check.

May I offer an alternative view?

I use underfloor entrances and, over winter, I leave the monitoring boards in place. The gap at the rear and the full width entrance provide sufficient ventilation but the board stops wind turbulence under the hive sucking warm air out of the hive. I check the board fairly regularly and from this I can determine when and where they are breaking into stores (pale wax cappings chewed up) and I can tell when brood is emerging (dark cappings chewed up). I can also roughly monitor the natural mite drop in case too many escaped from treatments!

I also use clear Crown Boards so that I can see what's happening up top without opening the hive - particularly useful in winter.

As many people have remarked before, in beekeeping there's always at least one alternative view!

CVB

 

[rdmw]

I agree with CVB. The yellows are loose fitting and on the windy north west coast of Scotland looking over the atlantic I think some protection is a good idea. I like the tip about the callings colour. I have only had dead bees on the board since adding fondant and only three or four. I agree that if you ask two Beekeepers a question you will get three answers! If it was easy it wouldn't be fun[emoji1]


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[Millet]

My tray is in all through winter and yip it is yellow, i found one dead be on it today i said a prayer and flicked it of onto the floor, i do not have a moisture problem either inside the hive before anyone kicks of about ventilation. it is insulated by the way.

 

[Levitt53]

It's colder today so not so many bees flying but still a few dead ones have squeezed in and died despite me moving it back a little bit. I was doing an inspection for the sake of doing one so I've taken it out. The mouseguard is still in place so I guess I've confused them a bit. I'll inspect the board again later when the guard is off and the weather is warmer.

 

[Karsal]

I have had this with my poly hives in the middle of summer with many going under the hive and trying to get in. Stopped it by popping in the sliding bottom board for a few days and this stopped them.