[crawfish]

This was a split I made in June with a new carniolan queen. It really never took off. I fed 2 to 1 but they would not take any. I found the queen at the reduced entrance hole. The bees at the upper entrance were frozen to the outside of the box.

 

[tefer2]

Is that one of the great inner covers with styro and vent holes you are using?

 

[crawfish]

Yes it is. They do real well here in the summer. This is the first winter that I have used them.

 

[hoodswoods]

Sorry 'bout your bees, mine are still hanging tough (1st year), but battled VM & SHB thru late summer, fall & early winter.

I had bearding so bad this summer, that I made some vent boxes that were 100% effective. I have the bottoms (left & right) closed off with PVC caps for winter as the weather dictates. This sits over a west beetle trap.

A smart man would have duplicated the bottom vent for the top, then I could have used PVC caps there as well - drilled the wrong size holes. Now I just have some slotted foam stuck in the top. My top vent also has an entrance, but I shut it down for SHB control.

 

[Parke County Queen]

I hate finding my girls dead. Sometimes, there is just nothing you can do.