Mice grids protect bees and the bee boxes from infestation by mice and thus from colony loss in winter. However, the mice grids are not attached to the bee box throughout the year, but are only attached during the colder season. For this reason, bees are often irritated by the new mice grid when they return.
In this blog you will learn everything about the attachment of the mice grids, a possible alternative and the confusion of the bees by the changed flight entrance. In addition, we also briefly go into the period at which the mouse grille should be removed again.
Table of contents:
- Avoiding mice in the brood nest of the bees
- Why should a mice grid be installed?
- At what time should the grid be installed?
- Alternatives to the mice grid
- How the mice grid irritates the returning bees
- When should the mice grid be removed?
Avoiding mice in the brood nest of bees
Mice gridsare necessary to protect the brood nest and the bees' hive from mice and other rodents. Especially in the cold season, mice go in search of a cozy and warm place for the winter. In a wooden beehive mice feel particularly comfortable, because it does not get colder than ten to fifteen degrees. This is partly because there is no draught in the brood nest and partly because the bees in the brood nest often radiate and give off additional warmth. Another attractive point for the mice is the balanced food supply from the honey, the dead bees and the brood left behind.
Why should a mice grid be installed?
As already described, the brood nest of bees is a very desirable place for many mice and small rodents. For the bees, however, mice are anything but desirable, since you do not get along with them as co-inhabitants. Other reasons, which clearly speak against the mice in the brood nest, are the destruction left behind, the droppings left behind and of course the emerging unrest of the bee colony. The worst thing about the droppings left in the hive is not only the lack of cleanliness, but the emergence of diseases. The possible diseases, which can be caused by the mice and their droppings, are life-threatening for the colony of bees and thus significantly limit their chances of survival.
Bees defend themselves against mice
Since the bees, despite their ability to defend themselves and their sting, cannot always stand up to the rodents on their own, the mice grid should be placed in front of the flight hole for the bees. However, the bees never give up without a fight, as they will not allow a mouse to walk over their hive. In some cases, the bees even manage to kill the mouse before it can do much damage. To counteract decomposition of the mouse, the bees then putty the mouse with propolis. Nevertheless, the mouse will decompose more and more, releasing toxic and pathogenic substances for the bee colony in the hive. The resulting bacteria and harmful substances, are dangerous for the bees and threaten their survival.
At what time should the grid be installed?
As a rule,the mouse grille should be installed at the beginning or at the latest in the middle of October to avoid the visit of rodents such as shrews. This is because after the late summer period, mice start looking for a suitable place to spend the winter. It is important to note that the grid should not be used too early. In fact, the mice grate prevents not only the entry of mice, but also the entry of pollen. The optimal time for the installation of the mouse screen can be determined by the weather conditions. You can recognize this mainly by the bees themselves, because as long as they continue to fly out during the day and the temperatures do not drop below twelve to fifteen degrees, the bees would manage to defend themselves independently against an invading mouse. During the defense the bees manage to chase a mouse out of their hive again. The mesh against the mice should be used as soon as the first frosts appear at night and also the temperatures during the day remain constantly below ten degrees.
Alternatives to the mice protection wire mesh
There is also a well-proven alternative to wire mesh. This is a strip that reduces the height of the flyway to about five mm. This strip can be easily attached to the bee box with two screws. When attaching the bar, it is important to pay close attention to the fact that the height of five mm is not exceeded, in order to provide the bees with real protection from the mice.
How the mice grid irritates the returning bees
After installing the grid, it is easy to observe that the returning bees are visibly confused and irritated. From now on it is not so easy for them to fly back to the hive. Due to the confusion, many bees initially look around insecurely and carefully, whereupon they either try to slowly get through the grid or turn away from the brood box again for the time being. Among the many initially shy bees, however, there are also a few brave bees that fly on the direct path through the mouse grid. The confusion of the bees is to be regarded as completely normal, since these are not accustomed to the reduction of their flight entrance. The impression that bees now cannot find their way in or fit through the grille is deceptive. It is only a change, which the bees will accept after only a short time. Already after a few days, you will observe that the bees fly in and out as usual without any problems.
When should the mousing grid be removed again?
The mousing grid should only be installed for wintering and the colder seasons. When the daytime temperatures regularly rise again to eight to ten degrees and the bees are flying again, the mice screen can be dismantled and removed. Apart from protection from rodents such as mice and the dirt they leave behind, the mouse net does not bring any advantages for the bees and their hive. On the contrary, the bees are even hindered by the grid. In addition, many bees lose their valuable pollen loads due to the strip on the grid. As soon as the mouse protection has been removed from the hive, the bees can resume their cleaning flight as usual and start collecting new pollen stores.
