Mounting a steel top entrance disc is a straightforward mechanical process that is accomplished by securing the disc to the hive body using a single screw. This central screw acts as a pivot point, holding the hardware in place while allowing you to rotate the disc to select different entrance settings.
To function correctly, the mounting screw must be tightened enough to hold the disc flat against the hive wood, but loose enough to allow the operator to rotate the disc between settings without tools.
Mechanism and Functionality
The Pivot Point
The installation relies on a single screw driven through the center hole of the steel disc.
Because the disc is designed to rotate, precise tension on this screw is vital. If it is too tight, the disc will seize; if too loose, the entrance options may not align correctly with the auger hole in the hive box.
Four Operational Settings
Once mounted, the disc serves as a traffic control gate for the colony. By rotating the steel plate, you can cycle through four specific modes:
- Open Access: A large opening allows all bees, including queens and drones, to enter and exit freely.
- Queen Excluder: Slots are sized to allow worker bees to pass but prevent the larger queen and drones from exiting.
- Ventilation: Small perforations allow air exchange to reduce moisture but completely block bee passage.
- Closed: A solid section of the disc blocks the hole entirely.
Critical Considerations and Risks
While the mounting process is simple, the placement and use of the disc introduce specific risks that must be managed.
The Drone Entrapment Risk
When using the Queen Excluder setting on a top entrance, you must ensure there is an alternative exit lower in the hive.
Drones are larger than worker bees and cannot pass through excluder slots. If the top entrance is their only way out, they will become trapped inside the hive and die, creating unnecessary stress and sanitation issues for the colony.
Queen Mating Flights
If you have a virgin queen in the colony, you must ensure she is not blocked by the excluder setting.
A new queen requires free access to the outside for her mating flights. If the disc is set to exclude or ventilate during this critical window, she will be unable to mate, leading to colony failure.
Winter Airflow vs. Insulation
The Ventilation setting is particularly useful for reducing condensation in standard, uninsulated wooden hives during winter.
However, beekeepers using well-insulated hives often find that top ventilation is unnecessary. In these setups, excessive airflow can vent valuable heat, so the "Closed" setting may be preferable.
Optimizing Your Entrance Strategy
Before tightening that screw, consider your hive's specific configuration and seasonal needs.
- If your primary focus is swarm control: Use the excluder setting, but verify that drones have a lower escape route to prevent clogging the top exit.
- If your primary focus is wintering uninsulated hives: Rotate to the ventilation setting to facilitate moisture release without exposing the cluster to direct drafts or predators.
- If your primary focus is transport: utilized the closed setting to rapidly secure the hive without needing to nail screens over the entrance.
Correctly mounting and rotating this disc transforms a static auger hole into a dynamic tool for managing hive health and traffic.
Summary Table:
| Setting | Function | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Open Access | Full passage for all bees | Peak nectar flow and daily activity |
| Queen Excluder | Workers pass; Queen/Drones blocked | Swarm control and queen management |
| Ventilation | Airflow only; no bee passage | Winter moisture reduction in wooden hives |
| Closed | Total blockage of the hole | Hive transport and securing the colony |
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