Floor's

[Hivemaker.]

Plans for floor.....http://www.edinburghbeekeepers.org.uk/downloads/diy_open_mesh_floor-graham-white.pdf


Also Kewl floor here..http://theapiarist.org/kewl-floor/


...old thread about them here..https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15588

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

YEs, please.

Here goes.
The first batch

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

....and the second.

 

[Beefriendly]

Seen this behaviour continue now with any wasp trying their luck very quickly being ejected from the hive.

With strong hives it matters not a jot what the entrance type is like. Wasps get ejected PDQ from them.
It's the weak hives where I question if the underfloor has any benefit. From my own observations, and those of others, underfloor entrances don't seem to confer any major advantage for weak hives and wasps will happily attack through them if the opportunity arises.
Nice coloured plans BTW.

 

[Erichalfbee]

With strong hives it matters not a jot what the entrance type is like. Wasps get ejected PDQ from them.
It's the weak hives where I question if the underfloor has any benefit. From my own observations, and those of others, underfloor entrances don't seem to confer any major advantage for weak hives and wasps will happily attack through them if the opportunity arises.
Nice coloured plans BTW.

I had a weak nuc on an underfloor entrance. Robbers found it but I noticed quickly and moved it. Wasps were looking around it for a few days and couldn’t work out how to get in. The robbers did though.

 

[Erichalfbee]

....and the second.

Can I use your plans please, JBM?
Might I suggest putting a 1cm batten on the top of the floor. I know you have bottom space but would the bees really make comb from the bottom bars if you have a mesh floor? That way you could drill a 7mm hole in the back.

 

[Beefriendly]

I had a weak nuc on an underfloor entrance. Robbers found it but I noticed quickly and moved it. Wasps were looking around it for a few days and couldn’t work out how to get in. The robbers did though.

If your other hives are also on underfloor entrances then your bees are already used to them. Might explain why the bees are more successful.
Wasps will find a way in if they can.

Interestingly, if I accidentally leave a window open in my extracting room or on bee shed, both bees and wasp find their way in. Only the wasps manage to find their way out by evening. Bees need trapping and removing. Always wondered why it happens like that.

 

[wightbees]

I don't use full width entrance on my under floor entrance only about third of it. But it looks like a full entrance.

 

[wightbees]

My entrance

 

[Millet]

Poly Langstroths have similar underfloor entrances and wasp have no trouble finding in their way into those either.

I have seen wasps going in with no trouble at all even when the bee numbers where high, they found there way in pretty easy by going to the far right or left of the entrance, however i have never seen one come back out maybe they where killed once they entered, the best entrance i have used for wasps and robbing are those home made tunnel entrances.

 

[enrico]

My entrance

No wonder they can't find it,, camouflaged with grass

 

[wightbees]

That's one of the better ones lol , they seem to do fine though: D

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Can I use your plans please, JBM?
Might I suggest putting a 1cm batten on the top of the floor. I know you have bottom space but would the bees really make comb from the bottom bars if you have a mesh floor? That way you could drill a 7mm hole in the back.

Feel free - the coloured ones are what the Scottish BKA made up for me when they published my article in their magazine.
I prefer my floors without the extra bottom space (I had thought about it)
And yes, they will build downwards even with OMF - that's why Maisies have made a modification to their poly nucs.

 

[wightbees]

I have used extra bottom space, working ok so far.