Special ordered bottom box

[Royall]

This is a bottom box that I was asked to make. I haven't seen any just like this but close. The main thing that I've found different from some other bottom boxes I have found on the wed is the 3/16" slot just past the entrance. The man that wanted it made said the slot is there to catch the hive beetles as the enter. He also was telling me the beetle can't get past the slot and drops down into an aluminum pan with some kind of oil in it. There will also be #8 hardware screen over the square opening that the bees can "push other critters" through to the oil. Is this something too specialized to build and have on hand? Is there anything to be said for the idea??

Mahalo for looking and any comments you have.

[Royall]

OOPS! I was looking back over my post and put in a bad dimension about the beetle trap slot. It should read 3/32" not 3/16"

Aloha,

Royall

[sawdstmakr]

It follows the same idea as my bottom boards but I did not put in the 3/32 slot in the front. I might just add that. It looks like you have a very large area in the back that will allow the varroa mites and beetles to land on and stay in the hive instead of falling into the oil.
Jim

[Royall]

When I was building the box, I was going with what prospective customer had drawing of and wanted. Sounds like the wide board in the back of the box could/should be the same size as the side pieces. Compared with what you are using, do the side pieces need to be narrower too?  I'll mention this to the man that wants this design and see if he is up for a little modification. Just need a wee bit more hardware cloth in the bottom.... if I could only find some on this island!

Mahalo Jim for the heads up

Royall

[BlueBee]

I haven’t had to deal with SHB here, but I’m a bit confused how that 3/16 slot is supposed to work.  Are the beetles suppose to walk in, crawl down the U shaped depression into the hive and then fall in the crack as they try to crawl up the other side?  I just figured the beetles would fly right over that U channel when entering the hive, but I don’t know.  Beetles are pretty small, why walk when you can fly?

I agree with Jim, all that landing space on the top of your bottom assembly is not the best idea for varroa.  They’ll land on that wood and then catch a ride with the next bee back up into the brood nest.

Looks like a good first revision to test with and modify as you observe the bees and pests reaction.  Sounds to me Royall that what you REALLY need is some bees of your own! 

[sawdstmakr]

A friend of mine manufactures bee equipment. He modified this bottom so that under the frames there is only wire clot under the frames. He did this by stapling the wire cloth to the frame and then adding a 3/4x3/4 board above the frame. This leaves no rim for the mites and SHB to land on.
Jim

[Royall]

What you're saying makes sense to me BlueBee. I thought all beetle could fly if they wanted to. I had ask the man about the beetle getting in and he said that "yeah, some will still get in but the bees will see them and push them through the wire cloth and into the oil below" Well if the bees can do that, then why go to all this trouble of fancy building? Just let them push them all through!

@ Jim, Just putting wire across the whole bottom sounds like a better idea than what I've been setting up to build.. I've got two here and I'll build more for anybody that wants them but for me IF I do do da bee thing, I'm going to go with 8 frame medium boxes and the simple bottom frame. At least from what I've gleaned from this site so far that's what I'd do..... but about the time things are making some good sense to me I read something else and I feel I went back to square one!! LOL

PS.... Hey BlueBee..... don't get pushy!! LOL

[Intheswamp]

Sounds like a much similar design that www.beetlejail.com has/had...looks like right now they're not offering the full bottom board, but only the entrance trap and in-hive traps.  Anyhow, the idea is for the beetle to land on the landing board and then run up to the hive entrance only to find (I believe I'm right on this part) a slightly raised lip there and the cut slot in front of it.  The beetle will seek safety into the dark area of the slot only to find an oil reservoir beneath the slot.  Nice design and Beetle Jail's fit and finish is very good.  Their small plastic Beetle Jail Jr.'s in-hive traps I really like.

Nice looking work there, Royall, send me a half dozen of the finished product and I'll test drive them for you! 

Ed

[Sundog]

..... but about the time things are making some good sense to me I read something else and I feel I went back to square one!! LOL

I have had the same feeling, you are not alone.  I built a base to accomodate SBBs with room to slide a  screen covered brownie pan under the bottom  board screen.  I mostly just put a few drops of dishwashing detergent into water (breaks the surface tension of the water) to drown the beetles and any other bugs that fall in.

Have fun!