Positioning a Triangle Escape Board is simple, but precision is key. To use it correctly, you must place it between the honey supers you intend to harvest and the brood chamber below. The board must be oriented with the triangle side facing down, into the brood chamber, and all other entrances into the honey supers must be sealed.
The Triangle Escape Board functions as a one-way gate. Its purpose is to funnel bees down and out of the honey supers into the main hive body, clearing the supers for a calm and efficient honey harvest.
The Principle Behind the Triangle Escape
A Triangle Escape Board is a simple yet effective tool for beekeepers. It allows you to remove bees from honey supers with minimal stress to the colony, making the harvest process significantly easier.
What is a Triangle Escape Board?
An escape board is an inner cover fitted with a one-way exit for bees. The "triangle" design is one of the most common and effective types.
Its sole purpose is to clear the honey supers—the boxes where bees store surplus honey—of bees before you remove them from the hive for extraction.
How It Creates a One-Way Path
Bees naturally want to move down into the brood chamber, where the queen resides and young are raised. The escape board leverages this behavior.
When placed with the triangle side facing down, it creates a simple maze that is easy for bees to navigate on their way out of the super but difficult for them to figure out on their way back in. This gently funnels the population out of the supers over 24-48 hours.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Placement
Correct placement is not just about orientation; it's about ensuring the board is the only path between the supers and the rest of the world.
Step 1: Identify Your Target Supers
First, determine which honey supers are capped and ready for harvest. These are the boxes you will place above the escape board.
Step 2: Position the Board Correctly
Remove the supers you plan to harvest. Place the Triangle Escape Board directly on top of the uppermost brood box (or any supers you are not harvesting).
The orientation is critical: the side with the plastic triangle escape must face down toward the brood chamber.
Step 3: Replace Supers and Close the Hive
Stack the honey supers you wish to empty directly on top of the escape board. Then, place your outer cover on top of the stack as usual.
Step 4: Seal All Upper Entrances
This is the most common point of failure. You must ensure there are no other entrances into the honey supers you are trying to clear. If there are cracks, gaps, or an upper entrance left open, bees will simply use that to come and go, rendering the escape board useless.
Understanding the Trade-offs and Best Practices
While effective, the Triangle Escape Board is one of several methods for clearing bees, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Patience is Required
Unlike fume boards, which use a chemical repellent to drive bees out quickly, an escape board is a passive system. It typically takes 24 to 48 hours to clear a super of most bees. You cannot install it in the morning and expect to harvest in the afternoon.
Less Stressful for the Colony
The primary benefit of an escape board is that it is the least stressful method for the bees. There are no chemicals involved, and the gradual exodus prevents the defensive panic that can be caused by brushing or blowing bees off frames.
Excellent for Cooler Weather
Fume boards rely on warm, sunny weather for the chemical repellent to vaporize effectively. A Triangle Escape Board works in any weather, making it a reliable choice for harvesting on shady, cool, or cloudy days.
Ensure the Board Fits Your Hive
Escape boards are built for specific hive dimensions, most commonly 8-frame or 10-frame sizes. Using a board that is the wrong size for your boxes will create gaps, allowing bees to bypass the one-way exit and defeating its purpose.
Making the Right Choice for Your Harvest
Your goal for the harvest will determine if this tool is the right one for the job.
- If your primary focus is a rapid harvest: An escape board is not the fastest method; a fume board or bee brush will be quicker, though more disruptive.
- If your primary focus is a calm, stress-free harvest: The Triangle Escape Board is the ideal tool, allowing for a gentle and orderly clearing of the supers.
- If you are harvesting in cool or overcast conditions: This board is your most reliable option, as its effectiveness is not dependent on temperature.
By understanding its simple mechanics, you can leverage the Triangle Escape Board to ensure a smooth and peaceful honey harvest.
Summary Table:
| Key Step | Critical Detail |
|---|---|
| Board Orientation | Triangle side must face down into the brood chamber. |
| Position in Hive | Place between honey supers to harvest and the brood box below. |
| Time to Clear Supers | Requires 24 to 48 hours for bees to exit. |
| Essential Check | Seal all other upper entrances to the supers to prevent bypass. |
Ready for a smoother, gentler honey harvest? The correct equipment is key to success. HONESTBEE supplies durable, precision-fit beekeeping supplies and equipment—including Triangle Escape Boards in 8-frame and 10-frame sizes—to commercial apiaries and beekeeping equipment distributors. Let us help you equip your operation for efficiency and bee health. Contact our wholesale experts today to discuss your needs.
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