screened inner cover

[flint1]

anyone here use a screened inner cover?   I am considering it, because most of my hives are in full sun.  Do they perform well?  any problems with them? Looking forward to any replies.

[apisbees]

I had inherited some years back and used them on the hive, but then realized. For the most part the bees want the heat in the hive. The bees like it to be 95 deg, the temp they keep the brood warmed too. and the temp that will aid in the vaporizing off of the extra moisture in the nectar. The bees fan not to cool the hive but to move the moist air out of the hive. the bees cluster out side the hive when it is warm not to avoid the heat but to keep from blocking the moist air from being moved from the hive. if they are not clustered out side then they are in side using energy (honey) to create heat for keeping the hive warm. Bees spend more time and energy trying to keep the hive warm than they do trying to cool it down. humans like the 50 to 80 deg temp range Bees like it between 65 to 95 deg. what is hot to us is just warm to the bees.
They do have a definite use. if you need to lock the bee in a hive during the day they can save a colonies life. If bees cannot move the air and control its flow because there are to many bees in the hive they can cook themselves to death in a few hours. So for moving a hive in the summer or keeping the bees from foraging on a sprayed field they work well

[riverbee]

"anyone here use a screened inner cover?   I am considering it, because most of my hives are in full sun.  Do they perform well?  any problems with them? "

i do not use a screened inner cover, what apisbees said in his reply!

i have used them (made my own) for moving bees in hot summer months. they work well for this, and only time i use them.

i just have a comment and maybe i am just an old crusty traditional keep with two cents. in full sun, or whatever placement, bees regulate temps and like to regulate air flow in the hive. it is in our best interests for whatever reason to give them the best protections we can through the year considering all the challenges we face.
bees do just fine without a screened inner cover.  just a guess, but i think you will find if you use one you might find yourself with a ton of propolis on this...........  
time bees have spent propolizing it shut. 

[LazyBkpr]

Apis and Mrs. River covered that well.   I will just add to what they said a little...   "We" need to give the bees the ability to regulate their temperature inside the hive.  Allowing them to use energy/honey to make it warmer, or to bring in water and fan that water to cool the hive down. Anything that might interfere with their ability to do that is not a good thing. They know what they need, and they will make sure they have it, even if they all line up and fan their wings to CREATE a specific airflow inside the hive.
   I have always felt that a screened inner cover, or even bottom boards can interfere with their ability to regulate the temps the way THEY want to in "normal" situations.
   Having said that... I live in a relatively mild climate (most years). It might be a wee bit warmer there. Try using one on one hive, and see if it does better or worse than the hive or hives with the normal inner covers!

[flint1]

Thank you everyone for the replies.  It was a fleeting thought.  All of you echo my thoughts exactly.  i'm sure you have read the old books and have seen the pictures of many hives in an open field, in full sun.  if ventilation was needed, I'm sure we would be reading about it in those books.  i do not use screened bottom boards either.  Tried them, did not see the benefit and went to all solid bottom boards.  Thanks again.  this is a great site.

[riverbee]

flint1, i have read a lot of old books and have many copies of old books...........

books and education/educating ourselves is a great foundation to learn about bees, their behavior and biology.
it is really through experience and experience of others that we really learn, or trying something out, or having a mentor. sometimes we try things, sometimes it flys, sometimes it doesn't. again it's how we learn and hone our skills to the 'mystery'  and passion of keeping bees. 
i still fly by the seat of my pants sometimes when it comes to bees.  there is always something to learn.

i have not used screened bottom boards or screened inner covers, and probably never will. (except screened inner cover for moving hives).

bees have survived thousands of years in the cavities of trees without all the stuff we try to provide in a langstroth hive.

thanks for your comments and thanks for being here!