[KQ6AR]

In the June 2010 bee journal a reader from FL wrote a letter on page 535.
He made an opaque white plastic cover for his hives to let a little light into the hives. He states all beetles left the hive after one week of using these covers.

If I was in SHB territory I'd be giving this a try.

 

[heaflaw]

That does sound like a great idea. It's so simple that it should have been experimented with before. It would have to not allow in so much light as to heat the hive, though.

 

[KQ6AR]

If you give it a try, report back with you're results.

We'll probably have beetle problems here some day, our climate is definitely mild enough for them.

 

[cdanderson]

How would this affect the bees who like darkness also ?

 

[KQ6AR]

I was wondering the same thing, although some people keep bees in 24/7 observation hives.

Maybe you could just put it on when beetle numbers where too high.

 

[peacekeeperapiaries]

Interesting idea, in theory we could put these "opaque" covers on for the summer and regular lids for winter (what little winter we get) or just leave them on year round. I do see excess heat/warming the hive as a possible problem, and not sure about the bees neccessity/liking of the dark. hmmm something to ponder, I guess I need to get to the PO Box and get this issue :scratch: