Bees, Bats and Beyond
Massachusetts Bee and Critter Removal Services
Screened Bottom Board
Above-right we see a very simple design of a screened bottom board (SBB). To the left is my new SBB design which allows for easy screen and heat-tape tray removal.
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A couple of years ago I was roaming the internet gathering information on integrated pest management (IPM). I came across a website describing the use of screened bottom boards (SBB) for counting Varroa mite concentrations within the hive. A research paper describing this study was written by Jean Pierre Chapleau of Canada. You can find an English translated version of this study titled "Experimentation of an Anti-Varroa Screened Bottom Board" by going to Anti-Varroa Screened Bottom Board. Within this paper he describes the construction of his SBB and the results of the study.
Searching around other websites I noticed that several vendors were selling SBB of a similar design as described in the research paper. I purchased three SBB's from three different vendors and each has its own unique design. The SBB shown at the top-right has a screen which has been stapled onto the frame and is non-removable. It also has a small 1/2" hole in back which allows for delivering smoke into the bottom of the hive. Another SBB has a removable screen tray which slides out the back of the hive. This allows for the removal of dead bees, mice, wax cappings, etc. without having the beekeeper to poke a stick or tool into the hive.
After using these SBB's for two seasons I decided to build a couple more using my own design. I liked the idea of a removable sliding screen and a slide tray for keeping count on varroa mites. This year I also started using "heat tapes" to bring some extra heat into the hive during the cold winter months (see Assisted Heating). I decided to incorporate all these features into my new design and the following pictures show the construction process of this new design of SBB.
The above picture shows the back and two sides of the SBB. The back piece has been cut to allow for the insertion of the top removable screen tray followed by the center heat tape tray and the bottom "sticky" board or varroa mite "count board". The two sides have been dadoed to allow for all three trays to rest and slide into position.
The above picture shows the SBB with the top removable screen tray and the bottom slide tray for varroa mite observations. During the warmer weather I remove the "heat-tape tray and cover up the hole with the center wood cover as seen above.
Just for show I have placed my ventilated inner cover above the new screened bottom board with the "heat-tape" tray and controller showing.
The following video shows the features of my new Screened Bottom Board.
