I'm Using a Mite Board

by Tom
(Durham NC )

I am a new beekeeper and installed a mite board under my hive in May when I installed my bee package. Should I remove this board in order to give bees more ventilation and only use when I need to take mite readings?

Also all info said to use entry reducer until hive is established. The bees were installed in May 21st. Should I remove the entry reducer at this time. It's pretty hot here. I am still feeding with an entry board feeder.

Hi Tom,

I think I would want to remove the mite board and then replace it whenever I wanted to check for mites. Since you already had mites I think you should continue to monitor for them frequently.

I use screened bottom boards on most of my hives. It means they have plenty of ventilation when I'm moving them. I think in most places condensation is likely to be a bigger problem than draft and cold. I think you should open up the entrance and let them regulate the temperature and defend the entrance, a strong colony is very good at it.

So long as there's plenty of flowers I the neighborhood I think I would dispense with the board feeder. They're not really big enough for a colony which needs to be fed, and they tend to encourage ants.

The Bee Guy