Screened hive entrances for moving

Install a screened entrance closure before transporting hives to keep bees confined while maintaining critical airflow. These mesh screens replace the standard entrance and allow air to circulate through the hive during the move.

Why It Works

A sealed hive without ventilation can overheat rapidly, especially in warm weather or direct sunlight. Thousands of bees generate significant metabolic heat, and without airflow the temperature inside can climb to lethal levels within minutes. Screened closures solve this by containing the colony while letting heat and moisture escape through the mesh.

Tips

• Install screened closures the evening before the move after all foragers have returned
• For warm-weather moves, add a screened inner cover on top for additional ventilation
• Commercial screened entrance closures are available in standard 8-frame and 10-frame sizes
• In an emergency, window screen stapled over the entrance works as a temporary substitute