[mharrell11]

My hive has a removable corrugated plastic bottom board under the screen. I assume this is for monitoring for various pests. Should this be left in all the time? Seems to me it will prevent good ventilation if it is.

 

[Knisely]

You can take it out and replace it when you want to do timed monitoring for varroa. You can use political signs to replace it if you lose it before you need it again...

As you live in Florida, you don't have the same temperature issues that someone living way up north would...

 

[AmericasBeekeeper]

Heat rises, so unless there is a stiff breeze and you did not provide a windbreak it will never be a problem for you.

 

[Michael Bush]

>Seems to me it will prevent good ventilation if it is.

Too much ventilation when the ambient temperature is over 93 F is a problem. The bees will be cooling the hive using evaporation and controlled ventilation and too much ventilation will heat the hive instead...

More is not necessarily better...