Robbing Screens- See it on youtube.com http://youtu.be/bgrj4V2p6NA
and watch my interview at ABF 2013 about using Screened Bottom Boards and Robbing Screens http://youtu.be/G9vXD9ygib4
We started using robbing screens to prevent carnage by wasps. During the summer months, we started to notice wasps trapping bees exiting the hive, trapping them against the landing boards, biting the bees heads off and flying off with their bodies. We increased our wasp traps, which you can see here, Wasp Trap Movie.
But we still needed to do more.
Wasps and robbing bees both are drawn to the smell of the beehive coming from the entrance and will hang around there trying to get in. With a robbing screen in place, both insects can't figure out they are blocked by a screen and don't even try to go up and over. Since Robbing Screens are put on at night, the forager bees leave the hive in the morning, realize something is different. The bees will orient themselves in the morning and remember how to get back in.
Mike made a few screens that needed to be screwed into the hive body. That was a disaster. Trying screw the screens on at night was a joke. Even with pilot holes, I was having a heck of a time trying to screw the robbing screens in, the hives were slipping off the screened bottom boards, bees were getting angry, I needed help just to attach them, it was not working. I ended up tying the screens onto the hive bodies with baling string. Not a pretty site.
Then my very inventive hubby, tired of hearing me complaining, came up with a few straps of metal that he attached to the sides of the robbing screen. They have a little point on each side that grabs the wood and stays in place. Easy to put on and easy to take off.
After several models, we came up with the one in the pictures. They are reversible with a closable entrance. One side has a wider opening. Once on, you can turn it either way.
Wasps and robbing bees both are drawn to the smell of the beehive coming from the entrance and will hang around there trying to get in. With a robbing screen in place, both insects can't figure out they are blocked by a screen and don't even try to go up and over. Since Robbing Screens are put on at night, the forager bees leave the hive in the morning, realize something is different. The bees will orient themselves in the morning and remember how to get back in.
All Robbing Screens are weatherproofed and ready to go on your hives. Remember to put them on at night.
Our 10-Frame Robbing Screens are made to fit Country Rubes Combo Screened Bottom Boards with or without an 8-Frame Adaptor. They will fit any 10-Frame bottom board with an open landing board, like ours below on the right.
This type of bottom board on the left has top rails that extend to the end of the landing board and will not work with our robbing screens without an 8-frame adaptor or something to plug the bottom space.
This movie shows how to use the Robbing Screen with or without the 8-Frame Adapter.
Confusing? Contact me if you have any questions. Janet at [email protected] or 530-913-2724
Robbing Screens - 10 Frame - Use with Country Rubes Combo Screened Bottom Boards or with our 8-Frame Adaptors or any Bottom Board with an open landing where your hive body is even with the top rails.
