Subject: Re: Open Mesh Floors/Large Entrances
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 20:27:13 -0800
From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com>



Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Helmut has just given me some great insite on the bottoms and screening.
However, I now have another question and here I thought I was done.I can see
why he recommended to John not to attach to bottom of a brood super. Wow!

It is mentioned that the bees now walk over the screen 1/8" inch and wipe
their feet even, and much debre accumulates underneath. Thought: We used to
trap pollen before we shook down in 1997 and had over 800 bottom traps, but
the pollen would fall through and draw varous types of ants that in off
season, had the capability to attack colonies in force (There is lit. on
same with colonies), besides drawing mice, lizzards, snakes etc. Also in
rainy season the debre under the colonies would mould and the colonies would
have to be moved and area raked and cleaned where colonies had been setting.
Question: How often does the debre under the OMF have to be cleaned assuming
that there is a fair amount as Helmut hints at? Have any of you seen it
mould or give rise to troubles, especially if using like screen floors that
slide in and out rather than OMF. Is there a comparison here? Are OMF better
or just as good as standard varroa screen bottoms I here beekeepers talking
about?

Sorry, just when I thought I was done. More questions!

Sincerelyl,

Dee A. Lusby
Tucson, Arizona
USA