Prevent robbing with screens and remote entrances!

We show you how the robbing screens work during an attempted robbing event.

[@strugglingbeekeepermarkcot9642]

Your bees are looking good keep up the good work.

[@LSUTigerMom]

Would the mesh covering the entrance, with the opening at the top of the mesh, work on 10 frame langstroth hive boxes? I see so many posts on Facebook beekeeping groups asking how to prevent robbing and then found your video. The mesh you put on your boxes looks great because it also provides ventilation which our boxes desperately need here in the hot and humid South. Thank you so much for posting this.

[@honyokhoneybees8116]

The bigger the hive and the more bees it contains will need a wider mesh remote entrance at the top. I prefer the 1/8" hardware cloth entrance cover and leave it short and use a wooden riser for the entrance. 1 problem to consider. The bigger the hive the more bees that die and need to be hauled out. If it's a hive with 40,000 bees then there will be lots of bees that die and need hauled out. They only live 4-6 weeks. Just watch your bottom board and be sure they keep it clean.

[@LSUTigerMom]

Thank you! Just to make sure I understand your directions…I make an entrance reducer out of 1/8” hardware cloth, but make it about 3” shorter than the entrance width. Then I put the wooden piece that the bees from the hive use to enter and exit, at the end of the entrance opening so the entrance is completely closed to robbers?

[@marksipes7919]

1. How much longer would you try to use queen cells in your area? 2. If you had a queen cell caged in a queen right hive, how long could she stay in there? ( truck driver out 12 days before I can do another inspection) 3. Have you ever had a virgin queen go through a winter and not get mated until the following spring? Thanks in advance.

[@honyokhoneybees8116]

1. Probably until October 2. They dont last long in a queen cell protector. They can make it about 1-2 days. 3. No we haven't had and virgins make it thru the winter.

[@RaySarasin]

Nice yard i am small yet but growing

[@IndianBuzzApiary]

What is successful mating rate with the screen

[@honyokhoneybees8116]

Works really well. I like the wood remote entrance better than the screen. Both work. We even have the queen mating boxes in our big yard with big hives on the same hive stand. Without the remote entrance they don't stand a chance

[@IndianBuzzApiary]

@@honyokhoneybees8116 Thanks a lot sir

[@Bee_Cathy]

Do you put these on closer to dearth then remove otherwise or just leave them on year round? Ty

[@honyokhoneybees8116]

Any time I do a split in the yard when I have big full hives present. Especially during a derth. I always have them on my queen mating boxes. Again in the same yard with my big hives. Works unbelievably well

[@Bee_Cathy]

@@honyokhoneybees8116 thank you.

[@richardfile-muriel]

Thanks for sharing, where are you all located?

[@honyokhoneybees8116]

Near Newton Illinois

[@richardfile-muriel]

Nice! Born and raised in Carlock, Illinois; now livin' in Albuquerque NM. Miss the Illinois green, but not the winters!

[@happyhoundsinireland]

How long does the failed robbing go on for?

[@honyokhoneybees8116]

Can happen for varying lengths and reasons. Nectar flow stops for the day....liquid feed spill and running out of a hive......just a whole host of possibilities

[@daveg6183]

Does the upper back entrance also need a robbing screen? And if so does the opening of a screen always need to be above the entrance hole? Or can it be inverted and facing down?

[@honyokhoneybees8116]

We don't have an upper entrance. On some boxes we have another vent that is covered with 1/8" hardware cloth. We always have the remote entrance above the entrance hole. Most of our boxes have bottom boards that won't allow an inverted robbing / remote entrance. Hope this helps.