Mesh floor question

[Annbees]

My friend's mentor put a plastic/poly type sheet under the mesh floor when he told her to applied the varroa treatment. She cannot get it out - so will this harm the bees over the winter? or would it be better to move to a solid floor despite the cold weather. He is in Australia at the moment !

 

[enrico]

Leave it in, it won't do any harm other than collect debris. Check the entrances with a thin stick a few times over winter to make sure they can get in and out.
E

 

[Millet]

I can't understand why she can not get the tray out especially with it being the bendy plastic type ..regardless of that all my trays are pushed in for winter which causes no harm.

 

[madasafish]

I run half my hives with solid floors all year. No issues at all and the equivalent to blocking off the mesh floor in OMF hives.

I ran all my solid floor hives through this warm summer with no issues of overheating and no matchsticks either..the poly covers kept them cool in the sun.

 

[user 6228]

I run half my hives with solid floors all year. No issues at all and the equivalent to blocking off the mesh floor in OMF hives.

I ran all my solid floor hives through this warm summer with no issues of overheating and no matchsticks either..the poly covers kept them cool in the sun.

did you have the entrance block in during the summer as well?
What was the varroa situation?

 

[Stiffy]

I run half my hives with solid floors all year. No issues at all and the equivalent to blocking off the mesh floor in OMF hives.

I ran all my solid floor hives through this warm summer with no issues of overheating and no matchsticks either..the poly covers kept them cool in the sun.

I have a few solid floors and am starting to wonder if the mesh floors are in reality a bit of a fad. I haven't noticed any difference in the honey produced or varroa levels on all hives.
S

 

[TooBee...]

I think I might have the same problem?

The Correx (plastic) sheet that is inserted under the mesh floor usually has a wooden baton attached to it to help it to be pushed / pulled in and out. Mine was a neat fit when inserted, the heavy rain and cold I think has caused either some expansion, or movement, but I couldn't get it out. I lifted the hive up 10mm on one side and inserted under it a piece of wood, then used the hook on my hive tool to work the baton out, when out I sandpapered it down as much as I could and then slathered it in Vaseline, it's still tight to get in and out, but it's workable.... the fact that I have the hive on a pallet in which there is a plank of wood directly underneath the back of the hive, where the baton is, probably doesn't help, as the weight of the hive pushes down on top of it.

Strange thing is, I'm finding a lot of moisture forming on the correx sheet, I'm guessing condensation from the warm hive air hitting the cold bottom correx surface, or it could be moisture coming in from outside via the entrance (which is reduced) and condensing on the correx that way.

 

[TooBee...]

I have a few solid floors and am starting to wonder if the mesh floors are in reality a bit of a fad. I haven't noticed any difference in the honey produced or varroa levels on all hives.
S

A recent study from north of Dublin found that only 3.3% of the mites that fall to the floor are able to make it to the edge of the floor - add a line of Vaseline all around the edge of the Mite Sheet and see for yourself.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I have a few solid floors

I have a few mesh floors, much prefer the solid, so never changed over to mesh.

 

[Stiffy]

A recent study from north of Dublin found that only 3.3% of the mites that fall to the floor are able to make it to the edge of the floor - add a line of Vaseline all around the edge of the Mite Sheet and see for yourself.

Thanks, might give that a try next year.
S

 

[Stiffy]

I have a few mesh floors, much prefer the solid, so never changed over to mesh.

I suppose that at some point in the past research was done on the efficacy of mesh over solid floors but must agree solid floors do seem to be easier to work with and less prone to break.
S

 

[Lancs Lad]

I suppose that at some point in the past research was done on the efficacy of mesh over solid floors but must agree solid floors do seem to be easier to work with and less prone to break.
S

Over the last few years I have searched the net for any research on mesh floors and could only find one piece, I think it was from Pen State University this found there was no evidence that they had any effect on mite populations.
Historically solid floors were a total mess because beekeepers never cleaned them, so in this respect mesh floors are an improvement,.I'm 75% solid floors but I do put clean floors on all hives in spring.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Over the last few years I have searched the net for any research on mesh floors and could only find one piece, I think it was from Pen State University this found there was no evidence that they had any effect on mite populations.

Mesh floor have little or no effect on mite populations, never have - it just happened that varroa came along when there was a big push to promote OMF, so they used a bit of 'fake news' to encourage people to use them.

Historically solid floors were a total mess because beekeepers never cleaned them, so in this respect mesh floors are an improvement,.I'm 75% solid floors but I do put clean floors on all hives in spring.

Only 'Spring cleaning' you need to do (whether using OMF or solid floors), put clean floor next to hive, move hive on to new floor, remove old floor and slide hive back in position - then clean the 'dirty' floor and use that for the next hive - job done, minimal disturbance to the colony.

 

[Stiffy]

Over the last few years I have searched the net for any research on mesh floors and could only find one piece, I think it was from Pen State University this found there was no evidence that they had any effect on mite populations.
Historically solid floors were a total mess because beekeepers never cleaned them, so in this respect mesh floors are an improvement,.I'm 75% solid floors but I do put clean floors on all hives in spring.

Thanks
I clean both solid and mesh floors each spring as both get 'gummed up' with crap. I can well remember the fella who mentored me many moons ago telling me my mesh floors were not deep enough and mites would be able to crawl back into the hive. Not sure if its still the same and I hope not as this was some time ago, there was some gems of wisdom and good practice but there were some advice which really was a load of old bxxxcks.
S

 

[Nordicul]

Hi

Two points

Millet and Madasafish say they leave the inspection tray in all the time , well overwinter anyway......I had been led to believe that you shouldn't as it's the only source of ventilation ( without the matchstick business that is)

Only leave it in if its on a very exposed site. So is there a correct answer to this inspection tray Hokey Kokey thing or it doesn't matter?

Also another thing I was led to believe ( Gospel) that OMF's had a major effect on varroa mite reduction..... Now I read Jenkinsbyrnmair post " Mesh floors have little or no effect, never have.....Fake News!!

I must say as a newbie BK trying to do the right thing ...I'm confused!

 

[For want of a better word]

Mine are OMF with underside entrance... seems to make no difference if OMF or solid ... sliders in or out..... occasionally fit a slider in as an inspection board to check varroa drop...

Pays your money... takes your choice!

Nadelik Lowen

 

[SteveG]

Hi

Two points

Millet and Madasafish say they leave the inspection tray in all the time , well overwinter anyway......I had been led to believe that you shouldn't as it's the only source of ventilation ( without the matchstick business that is)

Only leave it in if its on a very exposed site. So is there a correct answer to this inspection tray Hokey Kokey thing or it doesn't matter?

Also another thing I was led to believe ( Gospel) that OMF's had a major effect on varroa mite reduction..... Now I read Jenkinsbyrnmair post " Mesh floors have little or no effect, never have.....Fake News!!

I must say as a newbie BK trying to do the right thing ...I'm confused!

Hi, Totally agree, my 2nd year and I've read, told etc so many ideas..

my set up with Suffolk location - OMF - open at all year, Winter - Celotex on top of crown board, covered vents on roof. reduced entrance, mouse guard, chicken wire for woodpeckers. + pray. think my problem this winter with warm weather so far when to add fondant. 3 hives already light, added fondant yesterday. good luck

 

[madasafish]

did you have the entrance block in during the summer as well?
What was the varroa situation?

No entrance blocks summer. Varroa levels appear to have zero correlation with floor type..(Worst varroa on v big hive - 6 lang supers - with OMF.

 

[user 6228]

No entrance blocks summer. Varroa levels appear to have zero correlation with floor type..(Worst varroa on v big hive - 6 lang supers - with OMF.

varroa levels might vary with entrance size and insulation levels if there was an insulated solid floor as well...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi

Two points

Millet and Madasafish say they leave the inspection tray in all the time , well overwinter anyway......I had been led to believe that you shouldn't as it's the only source of ventilation

Only time I have inspection trays in is when I'm checking mite drop (If I can find the trays that is)and some of my colonies are in high, exposed locations.
As for ventilation - that's what the entrance is for, OMF just assists air circulation rather than ventilates the hive.