Lappe's Bee Supply
8 Frame Screened Bottom Board with Drawer (Langstroth, Assembled & Painted)
5.0 · 2 reviews
$36.95
Ready to ship
- Free shipping on most orders over $100
- Usually ships in 1–2 business days from Iowa
- Earn $1.18 back in Colony Cash
SKU: CMPS-6857
Product details
An 8-frame screened bottom booard is the base of a Langstroth hive. It supports the hive while improving airflow and allowing pest monitoring.
This version comes fully assembled and painted white, with a rear-access drawer and built-in debris tray for easier hive management.
Upgrade your hive ventilation and simplify mite monitoring with this ready-to-use screened bottom board.
Works with: 8-frame hive equipment
Definition
A screened bottom board is the base of a beehive that uses a mesh floor instead of a solid wood floor, improving airflow while allowing debris and pests to fall through for easier monitoring.
Quick Answer
A screened bottom board improves hive ventilation and allows beekeepers to monitor and manage pests using a removable tray.
The pull-out drawer lets you inspect debris and track mites or beetles without opening the hive.
Quick Specs
- Designed for 8-frame Langstroth hives
- Screened bottom for airflow and pest drop-through
- Rear-access drawer for easy inspection
- Painted for weather protection
- Ready to use with no assembly required
- SKU: CMPS-6857
Why Beekeepers Choose Screened Bottom Boards
- Improve ventilation, especially in warm weather
- Help regulate hive temperature and moisture
- Allow monitoring of Varroa mites and small hive beetles
- Reduce the need to open the hive for routine debris checks
Used by beekeepers across a wide range of climates to improve airflow and simplify pest monitoring.
How It Works in the Hive or Apiary
The screened surface replaces a solid floor, allowing air to flow upward through the hive.
A removable drawer beneath the screen collects debris such as wax particles, pollen, mites, and beetles.
The drawer can be accessed from the rear for inspection or cleaning without disturbing the bees.
Apiary Management Notes
- Remove the tray in hot weather to increase airflow
- Insert the tray during cooler months to reduce drafts
- Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to help trap mites and beetles on the tray
- Check the tray regularly to monitor colony health and pest activity
- Use consistent tray check intervals if you want more comparable mite drop observations over time
What’s Included
- Fully assembled 8-frame screened bottom board
- Integrated screen floor
- Rear-access pull-out drawer
- Built-in debris tray
- White exterior paint finish
Compatibility, Comparison & Buying Guide
| Category | Screened Bottom Board | Solid Bottom Board |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Fits 8-frame hives | See solid bottom board |
| Ventilation | High airflow | Limited airflow |
| Pest Monitoring | Built-in tray | None |
| Hive Disturbance | Check debris without opening hive | Requires opening hive for inspection |
| Winter Use | Tray can be inserted to reduce drafts | Naturally retains heat |
| Buying Tips |
|
Tip: If ventilation and mite tracking are priorities, screened bottom boards are the better choice.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Leaving the tray in during hot weather, which can reduce airflow
- Not cleaning the tray regularly, leading to harder-to-read debris checks
- Using mite drop observations alone without combining them with a broader mite management plan
FAQ
Does this fit all Langstroth hives?
No. This model is designed for 8-frame Langstroth hives only, so it will not fit 10-frame equipment.
What is the purpose of the screened bottom?
The screened bottom improves airflow and allows mites, beetles, and debris to fall through the hive floor onto the tray below.
Do I leave the tray in all year?
Not always. Many beekeepers remove the tray in hot weather for more ventilation and reinsert it during cooler months to reduce drafts.
Can I use this for mite monitoring?
Yes. The removable tray helps you observe natural mite drop and debris patterns without opening the hive.
Does it come assembled?
Yes. This screened bottom board comes fully assembled and ready to use.
Related Beekeeping Equipment
- 8-frame hive components
- Entrance reducers
- Complete hive kits
- Covers & inner covers
About Lappe's Bee Supply
Lappe’s Bee Supply is a family-owned business dedicated to providing high-quality beekeeping equipment and education to beekeepers of all experience levels.
With a focus on practical solutions and reliable products, Lappe’s helps beekeepers build stronger, healthier colonies season after season.
Share Your Experience
Have you used this screened bottom board in your apiary?
Share your experience, climate conditions, and management tips to help other beekeepers choose the right hive base for their setup.
Shipping Information
Most orders over $100 qualify for free shipping.
Customer reviews
Bottom Boards of my Dreams
Thank you for the quick ship of the screened bottom boards of my dreams! The recessed nature of these is so much better than the originals I purchased with semi-rigid trays that slide into a slot under the hive. My experience with my originals is that there isn't enough clearance between the bottom of the cross part that makes them bee proof and the top of the slide-in tray, especially over time when the tray tends to warp. With your awesome bottom board my monthly "sticky board" mite drop counts will be more accurate because the dropped mites won't get scraped off as I remove them for counting and it is much less likely that a rouge and poorly timed wind gust will blow loose debris of my non-sticky tray when I open them to "read the bottom boards" between sticky-board counts. And they came painted so it is not too late for me to get them in my installed just in time to prep for my monthly May mite counts. I love Lappe's Bee Supply. This is not my first product review but not my first rodeo being over-the-moon happy with a Lappe's Bee Supply purchase. Warm regards, Nel from NE Oregon
Nelda M. · May 03, 2024Good bye hive beatles!
This is one of the best defenses against hive beatles. I love the fit and construction of this one. It’s tight without gaps. I put this on the first day it arrived and trapped 10 beatles the first day, 5 the next, 3 the next, none today. Ta da!
Randy B. · May 01, 2023More bee hives
Shop all
