A mesh-screened bottom board for standard 8-frame Langstroth beehives, built from New Zealand pine with a 304 stainless steel mesh floor and a slide-out drawer. Designed for varroa monitoring, small hive beetle (SHB) management and improved hive ventilation — increasingly essential equipment for Australian beekeepers in the varroa era.

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).
Ventilation and cooling — airflow up through the mesh helps bees regulate hive temperature, reduces moisture buildup and reduces bearding on hot days.

How the drawer works

The slide-out drawer at the back of the base gives you full access without opening the hive:

Slide in a varroa sticky mat / counting grid for 24-hour or 72-hour natural varroa drop counts
Use the drawer as a passive small hive beetle trap with oil, diatomaceous earth or Chux cloth (the beetles' barbed legs get stuck in the cloth)
Inspect debris (wax cappings, pollen, dead bees) for hive health indicators without disturbing the colony
Close completely for transport, treatment confinement, or cold weather

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 (full-width access)
Fits: all standard 8-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

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: 8 Frame Langstroth
Material: New Zealand pine + 304 stainless steel mesh
Drawer: galvanised steel slide-out tray
Comes fully assembled — no flat-pack assembly
Available as raw timber or wax-dipped & painted

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this base 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. Combined with a periodic active test (sugar shake or alcohol wash), this gives you the visibility you need to time treatments.

What's the difference between rear access and side access?

This is the rear-access version — slide the drawer out the back of the hive. We also offer a side-access version for situations where you have limited space behind the hive (e.g. against a wall or fence). Side access is also better for palletised hives where the rear isn't accessible.

Also available in 10 frame size

If you run 10 frame Langstroth boxes, see the 10 frame mesh bottom board. Same construction, sized for 10 frame.

Should I get raw or wax-dipped?

The raw timber option is ideal if you'll wax-dip it yourself (use our bulk paraffin wax blocks) or paint it. The wax-dipped & painted version is ready to install straight out of the box — best for hobby beekeepers who don't have a wax-dipping setup.