Screen -vs- Solid bottom boards

[Slowmodem]

About half-way through last year, I swapped from regular screened bottom boards to screen bottom boards with an oil tray for SHB and mites.  The SHBs hadn't been bad when I was checking regularly last summer and fall, but when I looked the other day, it had been since around November, so there were more, but they had more time.  I will say that the SHB will fall into the tray.  They work as advertised.

I am hopeful that they will help with the SHB.  I'm hoping a full year will supply a better idea of how well they work.

It is my opinion that the SHB will become more of a threat to bees than mites eventually.

[mdunc]

I have some of each & really don't know which I like best. They both have their pros & cons, I just have to figure out which one out weighs the other.

[crazy8days]

I think I will build some solid bottoms this go around.  My only concern are SHB. I don't have the luxury of having my hives in the sun.  They get morning sun, that's about it.  SHB were more of a problem last year.  They never got to the point I had larva but, weaker hives had those black suckers running everywhere.  I've bought beetle traps so hopefully this will control them somewhat. 

[pistolpete]

I use a solid bottom board with a one inch space, and then a screen over that which serves as the hive floor.  There is a slot in the back that allows a plastic sheet to slide in and out.   It works well for me.  I can get quick mite counts year round.  There are no ants, SHB, or wax moths around here though. 

[tbonekel]

I just have to figure out which one out weighs the other.

My guess would be the solid out weighs the the other. 

That's bad, but at 6:20 in the morning, it's all I got.

[Perry]

I just have to figure out which one out weighs the other.

My guess would be the solid out weighs the the other. 

That's bad, but at 6:20 in the morning, it's all I got.

Groan, but given it's 6:30 am, it'll have to do. 

[apisbees]

Mite counts can also be done by smearing your sticky board with petroleum jelly and place a piece of aluminum window screening to #8 hardware screen over the sticky board. Then slide them in the on the bottom board. The mites will fall thru the screen and the bees will walk on top of the screen. After your 24 to 3 day mite drop lift the screen off to count the mites.

[Gypsi]

how do you get the bees off the bottomboard to pull that out Apis?  I try hard not to have to disturb the bees unless I am inspecting and I need mite counts more often than full inspections, especially with drought/dearth and robbing that goes with it

[DonMcJr]

Just some food for thought...

All 4 of my hives have Screened Bottom Boards and I have left the screens open all winter ( and oh what a COLD LONG and SNOWY winter we have had!)

Guess what? All 4 were alive as of last week...