Ain't that nice of Slicko, hey, throwing you in it and not going out to help? :) ML, maybe next time, take the hive home with you the night of the cutout. Don't cry, though, I'm sure bees are a dime a dozen in brizzy. Why don't you chuck those bees and salvagable brood in with your other hive? There will be more bees to protect the brood from the beetles. I'm using honey from a couple of cutouts now to feed back to them. What is hardware cloth, and what is it for?
Hey and don't forget Slicko offered to help with anything - I'd put him on a couple of your projects. hehehe
Lone