# Why are bees in the flow key slot?

**URL:** <https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/why-are-bees-in-the-flow-key-slot/32398>\
**Category:** Flow Hive\
**Created:** [February 13, 2022, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/why-are-bees-in-the-flow-key-slot/32398 "2022-02-13T01:45:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Connor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Connor](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Connor)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2022, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/why-are-bees-in-the-flow-key-slot/32398/1 "2022-02-13T01:45:55Z")

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Why are bees in flow key slot? How do we prevent this happening?

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**Author:** ![chau06](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/chau06/32/25515_2.png) [@chau06](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/chau06)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/why-are-bees-in-the-flow-key-slot/32398/2 "2022-02-13T02:24:24Z")

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The only way I can think of them getting in that spot (if the frames are intact) is if the key slot cover is not on - have you harvested recently?

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**Author:** ![skeggley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/skeggley/32/27522_2.png) [@skeggley](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/skeggley)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2022, 7:48am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/why-are-bees-in-the-flow-key-slot/32398/3 "2022-02-13T07:48:56Z")

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Apart from the keyhole cover as Chau says I’ve seen this happen on the forum where the top has cracked and the bees could get in. Same thing that has happened in this thread.

> [@Flow Frames - Longevity](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/flow-frames-longevity/32391):
>
> Probably not a popular topic, but here goes. In my experience the frames last about 2 years before the plastic ages and becomes brittle. I typically pull these frames in the fall and store them in a shed. I test the frames before insertion in the spring. When testing using the key I find that the plastic housing can crack which then makes it a bit difficult to use when your frames are later filled with honey. So am I wrong here in thinking you need to replace these frames say every 2-3 year…

Tagging @Freebee2.

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**Author:** ![Freebee2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/freebee2/32/18643_2.png) [@Freebee2](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Freebee2)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/why-are-bees-in-the-flow-key-slot/32398/4 "2022-02-13T22:23:10Z")

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Hi Connor,  
If your frames _have_ cracked, they shouldn’t have. I have seen this a couple of times but in the thousands of frames we’ve sent out, it’s really not common. So if this has happened please contact [info@honeyflow.com](mailto:info@honeyflow.com) so we can troubleshoot it with you to find out why.  
Yes a missing cover is another possibility.  
Do you have some photos of the spot they seem to be getting in so we can see what could be happening?