can bees fit through 1/4" hardware cloth?

[hoku]

Im having trouble searching and finding this answer.   thanks.

[TwT]

very easily, they have no trouble going through it, most use it for mouse guards, you will need number 7-8 hardware cloth for bee's not to go through, some go through number 7 but 8 is to small. think I got my numbers right, sure some will correct me if I am wrong, but 1/4 inch bee's will go through with no problem.

[Michael Bush]

Worker bees can fit through #7 if there is a bent wire.  Workers can fit through #6 but it's a squeeze and they can't get pollen through it.  Workers can fit through #5 and it's a squeeze but they can get about half their pollen through it.  Workers and drones can fit through #4.  Some workers will lose pollen just because it caught and popped out, but the won't lose much.

[Scadsobees]

I use 1/4" for mouse guards.  Theoretically mice can get through that but its never been a problem for me.

[mherndon]

Can a queen go through 1/4 inch?  I was thinking about using it in an Ulster Observation hive as a queen excluder, just to keep the queen in the top for the kids to see her.

Mark

[TwT]

Can a queen go through 1/4 inch?  I was thinking about using it in an Ulster Observation hive as a queen excluder, just to keep the queen in the top for the kids to see her.

Mark

SURE!!! any bee can go through 1/4" ,bumble bee's is the only I dont think could.

[Michael Bush]

>Can a queen go through 1/4 inch?

Yes.  In Africa they typically use #5 hardware cloth for excluders.

[JP]

My buddy Bailey hasn't chimed in yet so I will speak on his behalf. He had experimented with 1/4" making sbbs cause it was a pain locating #7 cloth. He sent me a picture one day on my cellphone of one of those hives that built completely through the 1/4" with comb extending down and through the hive stand by at least 7-8". It was quite a sight! He has sinced changed over to #7.


...JP