Screened Bottom Board (Front Drawer) - Waxed

A screened bottom board is an excellent choice for a beehive. At any time of the season, screening with sticky cardboard is possible, allows you to assess the varroa infestation rate and, above all, can guide your choice of treatment to prevent colony collapse. This is the main use of the drawer. Aside from its use for screening, the drawer should always be removed and stored. Otherwise, it risks becoming the hive's "garbage dump" and can be a breeding ground for certain parasites, such as wax moths. Exceptions to this rule are: 1) to encourage brood development in the spring; in this case, the drawer can be used for 2 to 3 weeks as soon as the hive begins to become active (usually in April). 2) the hive is in a windy corridor during the cold winter; the drawer will offer beneficial protection. Using sticky cardboard for varroa mite screening: Place a sticky cardboard (SB-1150) Place the mites on the drawer (under the mesh) for 72 hours and count the natural fall of the varroa mites. Divide the number of hours into 24-hour periods, in this case 3, and then divide the total number of varroa mites by this number. If, for example, you count 36 varroa mites after a 72-hour period, you would divide 36 by 3, which gives a result of 12 varroa mites per 24 hours. Record the results carefully. Treatment thresholds vary depending on the time of year. Normally, treatment is necessary when there are 3 or more varroa mites per day.