DrentseBij · Drenthe, NL · Gear · Aug 31, 2026

When do robbing screens come off — first frost, wasp die-off, or never?

All six of my hives in Drenthe have had robbing screens on since late July when the wasp pressure started. They've done their job — zero robbing this year, first season I can say that. Now I'm wondering about the exit strategy. Do you pull them after the first proper frost knocks the wasps back? When you stop seeing scouts? Or do some of you just leave them on all winter as a glorified entrance reducer? My only worry is cleansing flights in winter — bees coming out sluggish on a cold day and fumbling through the screen. Curious what the regional spread looks like on this one.

#robbing-screen#wasps#fall-management

▲ 6 votes 💬 3 replies

3 replies

TexasBeeSam · Aug 31, 2026

Regional answer from central Texas: mine stay on into December some years. Our yellowjackets don't quit until we get a real freeze, which can be embarrassingly late. If your frost reliably kills the wasps in October, pull them a week or two after you stop seeing scouts at the entrance. The screens aren't doing anything once the pressure's gone.

PerthshireBees · Aug 31, 2026

I leave mine on until the wasps are properly gone — usually late October in Perthshire — then swap to a plain reducer with a mouse guard. I wouldn't overwinter with the screen itself. On a marginal flying day bees exit slow and confused through the maze, and I've watched chilled bees fail to find their way back in. Mouse guard does the winter job better.

QuebecBees · Sep 1, 2026

Quebec here — off after the first hard frost, no exceptions, because the mouse guards go on the same visit. Agree with PerthshireBees about winter cleansing flights, the screen adds fumbling time the bees can't afford at -5. One frost isn't always enough to end the wasps though, watch for a second wave on a warm week.

Join 12,000+ beekeepers logging hives, asking questions, and mapping forage.

Get the Beekeeping Community app

When do robbing screens come off — first frost, wasp die-off, or never?

Poly hives vs cedar after four Quebec winters — is the difference as big as people claim?

Mouse guard is on and now dead bees are jamming the entrance — do I have to clear it by hand every week all winter?

Harmattan is coming and my top-bar hives sit in full sun — shade, water and dry-season prep in Enugu

Hive stand legs sinking into wet ground — slabs, gravel or a pallet on bricks before the winter rain?

Winter woodenware project list — scraping, scorching and painting 30 boxes over the dark months, what order?

Highland "winter" in Jalisco — the rains have stopped, so do I reduce and insulate at all or is that a northern habit?