Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: RHBee on June 13, 2012, 04:42:46 am

Title: Another step for SHB control.
Post by: RHBee on June 13, 2012, 04:42:46 am
I have found that my bees round up and chase SHB pretty well. I know that SHB lay eggs in small cracks and other inaccessible areas. I would like to know what types of materials are safe for caulking up areas like the gaps on wooden bound queen excluders. I also have Mann Lake hive top  :-D :shock:feeders the plastic twin tank type that provide lots of places for egg laying. I want to use expanding foam to completely seal off the complete underside of these things except for access to the syrup chambers.  If I give the foam time to cure do any of you think this could harm my bees? Can latex caulk be used?
Title: Re: Another step for SHB control.
Post by: rbinhood on June 13, 2012, 09:10:22 am
Use the latex caulk the foam will degenerate over time.
Title: Re: Another step for SHB control.
Post by: scdw43 on June 13, 2012, 01:53:22 pm
Elmer's wood filler.
Title: Re: Another step for SHB control.
Post by: Joe D on June 13, 2012, 10:00:22 pm
I don't use that feeder, but after building a box, I put either glue or liquid nails in the joint cracks.  Smooth it down with putty knife. 



Joe
Title: Re: Another step for SHB control.
Post by: Lone on June 15, 2012, 05:39:25 am
Hello,

I've used any kind of silicone filler in those gaps before and the bees are still alive.  Today I bought a tub of plasti-bond which the neighbour recommended. I'd not heard of it before but apparently it has multiple uses, and bonds to a variety of surfaces. I specifically wanted it to repair a bottom board the bees chewed out, but I might start using it in other little gaps and defects in the hives.  I don't know if it's toxic, but if the bees start making rock hard honey I'll know they've been licking it.

Lone
Title: Re: Another step for SHB control.
Post by: rail on June 16, 2012, 09:09:48 am
I mix Titebond 3 and saw dust for wood filler. You can mix the thickness you need or want!