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?

Is it too early to think about wrapping? The insulation vs ventilation fight, round one

Condensation season planning — quilt boxes and moisture boards, or the Derek Mitchell insulate-the-top approach?

Came home to a tipped hive — badger, wind, or someone messing? How do you read the scene?

Mouse guards and reduced entrances going on this week — homemade hardware-cloth versions, with photos

Itchy rash after scraping propolis — anyone else developed a reaction to the dust?

First extraction done — now how do I clean a sticky extractor without wrecking it?