Newbie questions, we picked up our Hive on Saturday. Basically a double deep 8 frame Hive with a NUC already installed and growing for two to three weeks (All new woodenware and treated two weeks ago with vaporized Oxalic Acid).
One of the frames is a Green Plastic Drone Frame, that is used as a Mite Trap. How do we use the Drone Frame in our Integrated Pest Management Program. When we did an initial inspection on our hive about half of the drone frame is capped. I believe that it has been in the hive for around two weeks.
Questions:
1. When should I remove the frame and put it in the freezer? 21 Days after placing it in the hive?
2. How to I clean the dead drones and mites out of the cells? You Tube shows people scrapping/decaping the cells to break the mite growth cycle.
3. What should I do with the wax capping?
4. Some online resources say I should do a mite assessment on the Drone pupae? Thoughts?
Thanks In Advance
Paul & Jolene