Triangle Escape Board vs. Fume Board for Harvesting Honey
What Is a Bee Escape Board?
A bee escape board is a flat board that sits between the honey super and the brood box. It uses a one-way exit, typically a triangle-shaped maze or a Porter bee escape, that lets bees move down into the brood area but prevents them from returning to the super above.
Triangle bee escape boards use angled channels that guide bees toward a small center opening. Bees can find the exit easily from above, but the design blocks their path back up into the super. It takes roughly 2 days for bees to clear the supers above the escape board. Most beekeepers use a blower to remove any bees that remain in the supers.
What Is a Fume Board?
A fume board is a hive-cover-sized board lined with absorbent material. A bee-safe repellent, like Honey-B-Gone, is applied to the liner, and the board is placed on top of the honey super. Heat from the sun warms the repellent, and the fumes drive bees down and out of the super, usually within five to ten minutes.
Fume boards work best on warm, sunny days when temperatures are high enough to activate the repellent. On cloudy or cool days, the process slows down or may not work at all. Follow the product instructions closely, since too much repellent or leaving the board on too long can affect honey flavor.
Triangle Escape Boards vs. Fume Boards
|
|
Triangle Escape Board |
Fume Board |
|
Speed |
24-48 hours |
10-15 minutes |
|
Weather dependent |
No |
Yes, needs warm sun |
|
Bee disruption |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Best for |
Smaller operations, gentler clearing |
Faster results, less labor |
|
Extra supplies needed |
None after purchase |
Repellent (reapply each use) |
|
Timing |
Place 1-2 days before harvest |
Use the same day |
How to Use a Bee Escape Board
Place the bee escape board below the lowest honey super you plan to pull. Leave for 24-48 hours. Remove the supers and the escape board after the 24-48 hour period. Some straggler bees may remain which are easy to remove with a bee brush or even a battery powered blower.
How to Use a Fume Board for Bee
Apply repellent to the absorbent liner according to the product directions. Set the fume board on top of the honey super and let the sun heat it. After 10-15 minutes, check the super. Once bees have moved down, pull the super and move to the next one. Some straggler bees may remain which are easy to remove with a bee brush or even a battery powered blower.
Which Method Is Better for Your Harvest?
Neither method is universally better. The right choice depends on the size of your operation, the weather, and how your harvest day is structured.
- Escape boards work well for beekeepers who can plan ahead and want a low-disruption approach.
- Escape boards require extra labor and time by handling the supers twice – once to place the escape board and a second time, 1-2 days later to remove the supers and the escape board.
- Fume boards are better suited for use on warm sunny days and require less lifting labor but often require you to go super by super.
- Some beekeepers keep both on hand. A cloudy forecast, a good apiary team or hive lifting tools may push you toward escape boards. A hot day with multiple fume boards in operation can clear many supers for same day results.
HillCo stocks both escape boards and fume boards alongside honey removal and extracting accessories, so beekeepers can choose the method that fits their apiary and their schedule.
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