Entrance pollen trap for pollen collection 37.5 cm

Entrance Pollen Trap for Pollen Collection 37.5 cm

The entrance pollen trap is a practical and gentle solution for beekeepers who want to collect pollen pellets directly at the varroa screen board entrance. It is mounted externally in front of the entrance opening, so you avoid interventions inside the hive and more complicated disassembly of the bottom board, as is common with pollen traps integrated into the bottom board. Bees returning to the hive pass through a plastic grid with circular openings; during passage, the pollen pellets are dislodged and fall into the collection drawer.

Main Advantages and Benefits for Beekeepers

Pollen collection without unnecessary disturbance to the colony: The pollen trap is simply hung on protruding screws. The drop-through screen also serves as a ventilation surface, so air access to the entrance is not restricted and the colony is not subjected to unnecessary stress.

Better protection of pollen against overheating and mold: Freshly collected pollen contains moisture and can spoil quickly. The advantage is a separate, easily removable collection drawer with perforation for good ventilation. The drawer can also be conveniently washed with water and kept clean.

Flip-up grid for quick interruption of collection: By flipping the grid from vertical to horizontal position (for example, by propping it with a wooden block), you can stop pollen collection at any time without having to remove the pollen trap. Bees can then fly out freely through the gap, without passing through the grid.

Passages for drones: Side exit holes with a diameter of 12 mm allow drones to leave the hive without problems, as they usually cannot pass through the standard pollen trap grid.

Proper Installation and Practical Tips

The pollen trap is most commonly installed in spring when there is plenty of pollen in nature (for example, during fruit tree or rapeseed bloom). It is recommended to perform installation early in the morning or evening when flight activity is low and there is no congestion in front of the entrance. Screw two screws (4×25) into the front wall of the varroa screen board at a spacing of 330 mm and hang the pollen trap on them using the keyhole-shaped openings. Verify that there is no gap between the pollen trap and the hive – bees will always find the easiest path and would bypass the grid. If you have hives close together, it is advisable to install pollen traps on all colonies so that bees do not drift into neighboring hives without the collection barrier.

Colony Care and Pollen Preservation

Long-term continuous pollen collection can reduce the colony's protein reserves needed for brood rearing. In practice, it has proven effective to collect pollen in shorter cycles (e.g., 3–4 days) and then interrupt collection for a time. Even though bees eventually learn to "scupgle" some pellets through, regularly check pollen stores in the combs. Remove pollen from the collection drawer daily or every other day to prevent deterioration from moisture, mold, or sudden rain. Dry the collected pollen as soon as possible, freeze it, or let it ferment in a jar with a sealable lid and cover the surface with honey for better stability and preservation of nutritional values.

Technical Specifications