To effectively clear bees for honey harvesting, a triangle escape board is placed directly beneath the honey super (or supers) you intend to remove. This simple tool creates a one-way exit, allowing bees to move down into the brood boxes while preventing them from returning to the honey-filled frames above.
The correct placement of an escape board is only the first step. True success depends on proper orientation, strategic timing with weather conditions, and allowing sufficient time for the one-way system to gently funnel bees out of your honey supers.
The Principle of the One-Way Exit
A triangle escape board works by exploiting the natural behavior of bees. It provides an easy path down but a confusing, impassable barrier for bees trying to move back up.
Critical Placement in the Hive
The board's location is its most important feature. It must be installed between the boxes you want to harvest (honey supers) and the boxes you want the bees to occupy (brood boxes).
This positioning ensures that as bees naturally migrate downwards, they leave the supers and consolidate in the main living quarters of the hive.
Orientation is Non-Negotiable
For the board to function, it must be oriented correctly. Place it so the flat surface is facing up (towards the honey supers) and the plastic triangles are facing down (towards the brood chamber).
The triangles form the "escape" route. The flat top surface prevents the bees from finding the small exit holes when they attempt to return.
Sealing the Supers
For the board to work, the escape route must be the only way out. Ensure there are no other cracks, holes, or entrances in the honey supers above the board. If your inner cover is placed above the supers, be sure its notched entrance is closed.
Optimizing the Clearing Process
Simply placing the board is not enough. The conditions under which you use it will determine its effectiveness.
Leverage Cooler Temperatures
Install the escape board in the late afternoon or evening. As temperatures drop overnight, bees are naturally inclined to move down toward the warmth and scent of the main cluster in the brood nest.
Using the board during the heat of the day can be less effective, as bees are actively foraging and moving throughout the entire hive.
Allow Sufficient Time
An escape board is not an instant solution. It typically requires 24 to 48 hours to clear the vast majority of bees from the supers.
Plan to install the board one to two days before you intend to collect the honey. Leaving it on for much longer can risk the bees finding a way back in or running out of food in the brood box if a nectar dearth occurs.
Understanding the Trade-offs
While effective, the escape board is a specific tool with distinct advantages and disadvantages compared to other methods like fume boards or bee blowers.
The Benefit: A Gentle Harvest
The primary advantage of an escape board is that it is a low-stress method for both the bees and the beekeeper. It gradually clears the supers without the use of chemicals or the aggressive disruption of a bee blower.
The Drawback: It Requires Two Visits
The main trade-off is time and labor. You must visit the apiary once to install the board and again 24-48 hours later to remove the cleared honey supers. This makes it a two-step process.
Ineffectiveness with a Trapped Queen
The system will fail if the queen is accidentally trapped in the honey supers above the board. The worker bees will not abandon their queen, rendering the escape route useless. This underscores the value of using a queen excluder during the nectar flow.
Making the Right Choice for Your Harvest
Use the following guidelines to decide if an escape board is the right tool for your specific goal.
- If your primary focus is a calm, gentle harvest: The escape board is an excellent choice, as it avoids the stress of blowers or chemical fume boards.
- If your primary focus is speed and a single-trip harvest: A fume board or bee blower will be more efficient, as they clear bees in minutes, not days.
- If you are a hobbyist with a few hives: The two-step process of an escape board is often a perfect, low-cost, and non-disruptive solution.
By understanding its mechanics and timing its use correctly, the triangle escape board becomes a reliable tool for a stress-free honey harvest.
Summary Table:
| Key Placement Factor | Essential Detail |
|---|---|
| Position in Hive | Between the honey supers (to be harvested) and the brood boxes. |
| Correct Orientation | Flat surface facing up (towards supers), plastic triangles facing down (towards brood chamber). |
| Sealing the Supers | Ensure no other cracks or entrances exist above the board; the escape must be the only exit. |
| Optimal Timing | Install in the late afternoon/evening; allow 24-48 hours for bees to clear out. |
Ready for a Calmer, More Efficient Harvest?
As a commercial beekeeper or distributor, your time and the well-being of your bees are paramount. The correct equipment is the foundation of a successful, low-stress operation.
HONESTBEE supplies the durable, reliable beekeeping supplies and equipment that commercial apiaries and distributors trust. We understand the precise demands of large-scale beekeeping and wholesale operations.
Let us help you equip your business for success. Contact our wholesale experts today to discuss your specific needs and discover how our products can streamline your honey harvest and improve your bottom line.
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