The Bee Escape Board is a passive, low-stress method for clearing bees from honey supers before a harvest. It functions as a one-way gate, placed between the honey supers you intend to harvest and the main brood box. This design allows bees to move down into the hive but prevents them from finding their way back up into the supers.
The Bee Escape Board offers a gentle alternative to more disruptive methods like brushing or fume boards. Its effectiveness relies on proper placement and allowing sufficient time—typically overnight or up to 24 hours—for the bees' natural movement to clear the supers.
How the Bee Escape Board Works
The Core Principle: A One-Way Exit
A bee escape board is essentially a modified inner cover fitted with a special one-way valve or maze.
Once the bees move down through the escape mechanism, the design makes it nearly impossible for them to navigate the path in reverse.
This effectively traps the bees in the lower part of the hive, leaving the upper honey supers almost entirely empty.
Leveraging Natural Bee Behavior
The popular Triangle Bee Escape Board design specifically takes advantage of the bees' natural instinct to turn right when searching for an exit.
This predictable behavior efficiently funnels them out of the super, simplifying the process of clearing the boxes.
The Step-by-Step Implementation
Proper Placement and Orientation
The board must be placed directly below the honey supers you plan to harvest and above the brood boxes.
Crucially, the side of the board with the escape mechanism (e.g., the triangle) must face down toward the main hive entrance. This orientation is what allows bees to exit the supers, not enter them.
Timing is Critical
This method is not instantaneous. The board should be left on the hive for several hours, with an overnight period being a common and effective timeframe.
For a thorough clearing, allow up to 24 hours for the bees to find their way out. Some beekeepers may even leave it for a couple of days to ensure the super is completely empty.
Checking Your Progress
After the designated time has passed, you can return to the hive and remove the honey supers.
You should find that approximately 95% of the bees have vacated the boxes, making them light and easy to handle for extraction. A few remaining bees can be gently brushed off.
Understanding the Trade-offs and Considerations
The Time Commitment
The primary trade-off is time. Unlike active methods like using a bee brush or a fume board, the escape board requires you to plan your harvest at least a day in advance.
Incomplete Bee Removal
While highly effective, you should not expect the supers to be 100% bee-free. A small number of bees may remain, requiring minimal intervention.
Avoid Trapping Brood
Before installing the board, you must confirm there is no brood (eggs or larvae) in the honey supers. If nurse bees are trapped above the board and away from the main cluster, any brood present could become chilled and perish.
Making the Right Choice for Your Harvest
By understanding its function, you can decide if this passive method aligns with your beekeeping goals.
- If your primary focus is minimizing stress on the colony: The bee escape board is the ideal choice, as it is the most gentle and passive method available.
- If your primary focus is speed for a large-scale operation: You may prefer more active methods, but be prepared for significantly more disruption to the hive.
By patiently applying this tool, you can conduct a calm and efficient honey harvest that respects the natural behavior of your bees.
Summary Table:
| Aspect | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| Method Type | Passive, low-stress |
| Core Principle | One-way exit valve/maze |
| Placement | Between honey supers and brood box |
| Typical Timing | Overnight to 24 hours |
| Effectiveness | Clears ~95% of bees |
| Best For | Minimizing hive disturbance |
Ready for a Calmer, More Efficient Harvest?
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Let us help you enhance your harvests and protect your colonies. Contact our team today to discuss your needs and discover the HONESTBEE difference.
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