White insulating board, is it safe to use with bees

[Stung]

I went and bought 2" Styrofoam board to use for insulting.  After I got it, a man said I should not use it because it might have formaldehyde in it.  I see the green or blue being used.  I was given instructions once to use the white board inner cover, an the bees ate through it.  Our winter temp can run from -15 to 50.  the winds can get up to 20-30 mph.  I have try to do beekeeping every year, but loose in the winter.  I was told to stay on top of the mites and insulate.


         Western, New York.  Home of cold & snow

[paus]

In my honest work before I retired I have had much experience with all kinds of insulation, including formaldehyde.  The white foam board is Styrofoam, When the bees need more room they may chew it up and dump it, as they do other types of insulation.  It is safe.

[Oldbeavo]

Paradise in Finland make a compressed Styrofoam be box, we are running 50 of them at present and I am very impressed with how the bees wintered in them.

[eltalia]

I went and bought 2" Styrofoam board to use for insulting.
(edit)

Having used auch extensively for years Styrofoam (coolite) and polyurathane(sp?) foam both are
fine bits of kit.
Things to pay attention to include protection from physical damage, deterioration in full sunlight,
careful use of solvents (mineral oil based products) and knowing freshly blown foam emits gas
for some days after moulding - the urathane "builders foam" aerosol packs do not generally
cause bees any noticeable discomfort, over getting bogged in it.
And yes, left locked in by foam an active colony will chew through 50mm in around two days.
I attach one hive body built from a urathane product, note the lining. A work in progress, disregard
the construction supports/seals.

Cheers.


Bill

[jalentour]

Stung, where are you from?

[Acebird]

I was told to stay on top of the mites and insulate.

I doubt if insulation will make a difference in your success to overwinter unless you are north of 44 degrees latitude.  What else are people telling you that isn't working?

[eltalia]

I was told to stay on top of the mites and insulate.

I doubt if insulation will make a difference in your success to overwinter unless you are
north of 44 degrees latitude. 
(edit)

Insulation will make a difference (positively) for colonys in ambients below or
above 35C+/-1 so I take it your're saying the OP is getting something else wrong in
overwintering practise?
At ~42N the OP would welcome your "local" advice... heh 

Compliments.

Bill

[jalentour]

They will eat thru 1" blue board as well. 
I use it as an inner liner with a shim, wrap the exterior with same. 
Prob over kill for my area, has worked very well though.

[Michael Bush]

The bees chew up the white styrofoam and then the static makes it stick to them.  It's a mess.  The blue or pink higher density stuff isn't as bad.

[rober]

I use the blue foam under the outer cover. works fine. it has a plastic liner on one side. I put the liner towards the bees. some foam has a foil face on one side. that works even better. put the foil towards the bees.

[eltalia]

I use the blue foam under the outer cover. works fine. it has a plastic liner on one side. I put the liner towards the bees. some foam has a foil face on one side. that works even better. put the foil towards the bees.

A wholesome supporter of insulated lids - mine all are, fully - it is important
to understand how insulation does work in terms of heat transition. Heat still
travels across insulation, hence the use of quantative "R" factors.
Why it is important to understand leads into which material is suitable
for the active face. Whichever material that is the active face is that you
use to reflect heat entering from or the dewpoint forming at.
So, for foil insulation the foil faces the heat source, the roof.
And for foil lined insulation the foil faces the heat source, the roof.

There are any number of web pages on the topics for those inquistive, here is
just one from a fast g00gle - I have not read it;
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/sealing-your-home

Cheers.


Billu

[Oldbeavo]

Hi Michael
As you may have noticed in a previous post we are running the Paradise high density polystyrene hives that are white and we are not experiencing any chewing.
They are very well insulated, I am surprise no one is trying these hives, especially in the extreme cold and hot climates.

[eltalia]

Hi Michael
As you may have noticed in a previous post we are running the Paradise high density polystyrene hives that are white and we are not experiencing any chewing.
They are very well insulated, I am surprise no one is trying these hives, especially in the extreme cold and hot climates.

I have run their precursor, one not so overpriced.
They work well but are wholly unsuitable for migratory apiarys.
I have posted why before today.

Cheers.

Bill

--
note -- last post.

[Michael Bush]

>we are running the Paradise high density polystyrene hives that are white and we are not experiencing any chewing.

Yes, the high density foam works fine.  It's the low density styrofoam that gets chewed.

[gww]

I read one time that if you wrap the foam with suran wrap that the bees leave it alone.  It is just something I read not that I have tried.  The bees left my blue foam alone last winter.
Cheers
gww

[texanbelchers]

I built some division boards with the AL lined foam.  I covered the edges with AL tape.  Most of them survived, but they found some imperfections on some and went through the facing.  Once in they removed the foam and used it for a hangout.