To correctly install a triangle bee escape board, place it directly between the brood chamber and the honey super you intend to remove. The critical step is orientation: the side containing the triangle maze must face the bottom of the hive, while the flat surface must face upward toward the honey frames.
Core Takeaway The triangle bee escape board acts as a mechanical one-way valve, leveraging the bees' natural navigation to clear a super without chemicals. Success relies almost entirely on proper orientation (triangle side down) and strict adherence to a 24-hour time window.
The Mechanics of Installation
Proper Orientation
The most common error in using a triangle escape board is incorrect orientation. You must verify that the flat surface is facing up. This provides a smooth floor for the bees currently in the honey super.
The side with the triangle mechanism must face down. This directs the bees into the maze, allowing them to exit into the brood box below while preventing their return.
Placement Strategy
Remove the honey super you plan to harvest and place the escape board directly on top of the brood boxes (or the remaining supers you are leaving).
Place the full honey super back on top of the escape board. Ensure there are no gaps between the boxes, as the board relies on a sealed environment to encourage downward movement.
Optimizing for Effectiveness
Leveraging Temperature
These boards function most efficiently when temperatures are cooler.
During cool nights, bees naturally cluster downward into the brood boxes to maintain hive warmth. The escape board takes advantage of this instinct, allowing them to leave the cold super but blocking their return.
The Ideal Time Window
This is not an instant process; it requires patience. You must allow the bees roughly 24 hours, typically overnight, to vacate the super.
Checking too soon often results in a super that still contains straggler bees.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
The 24-Hour Limit
Do not leave the escape board on the hive for more than 24 hours.
While the maze is difficult to navigate, it is not impossible. Given enough time, bees will eventually figure out how to navigate the maze in reverse and repopulate the honey super.
Equipment Integrity
Because the honey super is temporarily separated from the colony's defensive force, it is vulnerable.
Ensure your woodenware is in good condition. If there are cracks or rot in the super, robber bees or pests may enter from the outside to steal the unguarded honey.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
To ensure a successful harvest, align your approach with your specific conditions:
- If your primary focus is a chemical-free harvest: Use the triangle board as your primary method, accepting that it requires two trips to the apiary (one to install, one to harvest).
- If your primary focus is efficiency in cool weather: Install the board in the late afternoon to maximize the natural downward movement of the cluster during the cold night.
- If your primary focus is preventing robbery: Harvest the honey immediately after the 24-hour window closes to minimize the time the super sits unguarded.
By orienting the triangles downward and respecting the overnight window, you transform a chaotic harvest into a calm, bee-free removal.
Summary Table:
| Step | Action Item | Critical Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | Flat Side Up | Provides a smooth floor for bees in the honey super. |
| Orientation | Triangle Side Down | Directs bees into the maze toward the brood box below. |
| Placement | Intermediate Layer | Place between the brood chamber and the honey super. |
| Timing | 24-Hour Window | Best installed late afternoon; remove within 24 hours. |
| Environment | Temperature | Most effective during cool nights when bees cluster downward. |
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