10 Frame Beehive Base - Mesh Vented Bottom Board With Drawer Trap (Side Access)
A mesh-screened bottom board for 10-frame Langstroth beehives with the drawer accessed from the side rather than the rear — designed for palletised commercial operations, hives stacked tightly, or hives positioned against a wall or fence where rear access isn't possible. Built from New Zealand pine with a 304 stainless steel mesh floor and a slide-out drawer for varroa monitoring, small hive beetle (SHB) management and hive ventilation.
When to choose side access over rear access
- Palletised hives — multiple hives sit close together on pallets, rear access is blocked by the next hive in line
- Hives against a wall, fence or shed — no room behind to slide out a rear drawer
- Wall-mounted or tightly-spaced apiaries — side access keeps the drawer reachable
- Mixed access setups — some hives rear-access, some side, depending on position in your apiary
Why upgrade from a solid base?
A mesh (also called screened) bottom board lets you monitor pest pressure and improve hive health in three ways a solid base can't:
- Varroa drop counting — mites that groom off fall through the mesh onto the drawer. Insert a sticky mat or counting grid to track natural varroa drops as part of your IPM monitoring.
- Small hive beetle management — beetles knocked off frames fall through the mesh and are trapped in the drawer (use oil, diatomaceous earth or Chux cloth in the drawer for a finishing kill — check regulations in your state).
- Ventilation and cooling — airflow up through the mesh helps bees regulate hive temperature, reduces moisture buildup and reduces bearding on hot days.
Built to last
- Frame: New Zealand pine — strong, lightweight and locally familiar
- Mesh: 304 stainless steel — won't rust or stain, and stays effective for years
- Drawer: galvanised steel slide-out tray accessed from the side
- Fits: all standard 10-frame Langstroth boxes
- Options: Raw timber for those who'll paint or wax-dip yourself, or fully wax-dipped & painted for ready-to-go installation
About the wax-dipped & painted option
Wax dipping is a process many commercial beekeepers use to preserve timber for a longer working life. Our wax-dipped bases are dipped into a 50/50 microcrystalline / paraffin wax mix at high temperature, then painted four times for maximum protection. Choose this option if you want a ready-to-install base with proven longevity in the field.
Pair with for varroa & SHB management
- Varroa Sticky Mat / Counting Grid (10-pack) — slides directly into the drawer for natural drop monitoring
- Varroa CO2 Test Kit — for active alcohol-free mite counts when you need a number now
- Varroa Sugar Shake Mite Test Kit — this test kit can be used for the sugar shake or alcohol wash methods
Specifications
- Size: 10 Frame Langstroth
- Riser dimensions: 506mm × 406mm
- Overall dimensions: 535mm × 406mm × 115mm
- Material: New Zealand pine + 304 stainless steel mesh
- Drawer: galvanised steel slide-out tray (side access)
- Comes fully assembled — no flat-pack assembly
- Available as raw timber or wax-dipped & painted
- Also available with rear-access drawer: 10 frame rear-access mesh bottom board
Frequently asked questions
Also available in 8 frame size
If you run 8 frame Langstroth boxes, see the 8 frame side-access mesh bottom board. Same construction, sized for 8 frame.
Can I use this for varroa monitoring?
Yes — this is exactly what mesh / screened bottom boards are designed for. Insert a varroa sticky mat into the drawer for natural drop monitoring over 24 or 72 hours.
