Packing polystyrene as dividers

[jackbee]

Ok, this may be a daft idea but until I ask I won't know so . . .

Have a swarm in a 14x12, but small, only on 2/3 frames even after a month. So I'm thinking it's probably a bit spacy in there with 11 frames and a dummy so thought of knocking up some dividers to give them a 6 frame space.

Looked around the house, no spare wood but some big bits of packing poly.

Now if I cut them to size and seal with PVA would they do the job or woild bees chew it up even if sealed

Thoughts?

anyone done it - with success or failure

 

[Tom Bick]

Probably yes but if only for a short time wrap the poly in kitchen foil but leave no gaps.

 

[jackbee]

Probably yes but if only for a short time wrap the poly in kitchen foil but leave no gaps.

ah, didn't think of foil, good idea

 

[oliver90owner]

So I'm thinking it's probably a bit spacy in there

Bit of an understatement, that. Definitely was and should have been corrected at first opportunity. You have lost quite a lot of colony expansion opportunity, but that may be ameliorated by her not getting mated too sharply.

Any insulation is good. In fact, any space reduction would have been good, even without added insulation. Any insulationthat might be chewed simply needs to be covered with something to prevent that, How you do it your choice. Aliminium foil, plastic sheet, duct tape, paint, epoxy resin,... the list could be as long as a brainstorming session can provide...

 

[Queens59]

We often use polystyrene to insulate WBCs over the winter...but they do need it 'sticky back plastic'd' or wrapped as they do chew it...but it works otherwise...

 

[Finman]

.


Playing that poor is waste of time and work.

OK, I do many kind of things but they are not value of writing to internet.

.

 

[susbees]

Wrap it securely....they just LOVE to burrow in and build wild comb in the stuff. Once done, never repeated.

 

[barratt_sab]

Any insulationthat might be chewed simply needs to be covered with something to prevent that, How you do it your choice. Aliminium foil, plastic sheet, duct tape, paint, epoxy resin,... the list could be as long as a brainstorming session can provide...

As we discovered...

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10971

 

[drstitson]

as per rab - if they haven't exploded within the first week then should have been treated like any other "nuc" ie given as much insulation as possible and only as much space as needed.

remember your swarm bees will be progressively dying over the immediate post swarm weeks - wasting energy on heating won't help build up.

 

[jackbee]

First job tonight - wrap poly

first job on appropriate weather - reduce hive space

thanks for replies