Snug as a Bug: Why Your Tasmanian Beehive Needs an Entrance Reducer This Autumn
The crisp autumn air is here in Port Sorell, the leaves are turning, and our evenings definitely have a chill! As we enjoy the beauty of a Tasmanian autumn, it's also the crucial time for beekeepers to help their colonies prepare for the colder months ahead. One of the simplest, yet most effective, tools in our beekeeping kit for this season is the humble entrance reducer.
If you're new to beekeeping, you might wonder what this little block is for. Let's dive into why it's so important for keeping your bees safe, warm, and secure through a Tasmanian winter.
What Exactly is an Entrance Reducer?
An entrance reducer is typically a small block of wood (though other materials can be used) designed to fit snugly into the main entrance of your beehive. Most wooden reducers have two different sized notches cut into them, allowing you to adjust the size of the entrance opening depending on the season and the colony's needs.
Why Bother Reducing the Entrance? Key Benefits for Tasmanian Hives:
Leaving the full hive entrance open during the cooler months can pose several risks to your colony. Here’s why reducing that opening is so beneficial, especially now:
Keeping the Cold Out (and the Warmth In!): Just like closing doors and windows keeps our own homes warmer, a smaller entrance helps your bees maintain a stable temperature inside the hive. With less open space, they expend less energy trying to keep the brood nest warm as those Tasmanian temperatures drop. This saved energy is vital for winter survival.
Easier Defence Against Robbers: While the main nectar flow might be over, other bee colonies (or persistent wasps) might still try to rob honey stores, especially from weaker hives. A smaller entrance creates a bottleneck, making it much easier for the colony's guard bees to defend their home against intruders.
Stopping Unwanted Winter Guests (Especially Mice!): This is a big one for Tasmanian beekeepers! As it gets colder, field mice look for warm, sheltered places with a food source – and a beehive is prime real estate! A standard hive entrance is like an open door for a mouse. Using an entrance reducer with the smallest notch is usually enough to physically block mice from getting in, preventing potential nest building, contamination, and destruction within your hive.
Choosing and Using Your Entrance Reducer:
When to Install: Now (mid-late autumn) is generally the perfect time in Tasmania, as temperatures are consistently dropping and mouse activity might increase.
Which Notch Size? For winter, you'll almost always want to use the smallest opening. This provides maximum protection against mice and the best heat retention, while still allowing bees to come and go for necessary cleansing flights on warmer winter days. The larger notch might be useful in early autumn or for smaller colonies during the main season, but winter demands the tighter security.
How to Install: Simply place the reducer into the hive entrance. Ensure it fits snugly so pests can't sneak around the edges. You usually don't need to fix it permanently, but make sure it won't easily get knocked out.
Keep an Eye on It: Check the entrance periodically throughout winter, especially after a cold snap. Ensure the small opening isn't blocked by dead bees, preventing ventilation and blocking cleansing flights. Gently clear any blockage if needed.
When to Take it Off?
You'll typically remove the entrance reducer in spring (around September/October in Tasmania, depending on the weather and your colony's strength) when temperatures reliably warm up, the colony starts growing rapidly, and the risk of robbing and mice decreases.
A Small Step for Big Protection
Using an entrance reducer is a simple, inexpensive step that significantly improves your colony's chances of thriving through the Tasmanian winter. It helps them stay warm, defend their precious honey stores, and keeps destructive pests like mice firmly outside where they belong.
Here at Frogmouth Ponds, we make sure all our hives are fitted with reducers as autumn sets in. If you haven't already, take a few minutes this week to check your hives and get those entrances reduced! Your bees will thank you for it. Keep an eye out for our next blog post, where I'll share the specific entrance reducer design we use and recommend here.
Do you have any favourite tips for using entrance reducers? Share them in the comments below!
