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BUCKS COUNTY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

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Mite checks and drones

  • March 15, 2024 7:51 PM
    Quote
    Message # 13330302
    Brynnen

    I have been reading lately about mite checks and the issue with drones. Apparently, the drones appear to be the primary reservoir for mites in the spring.  When we do our spring mite counts on nurse bees, the general thought is we are missing most of the mites in the hive since they are primarily on the drones.  When the drones start to decrease in late summer we see a huge jump in mite counts as the mites move from drones to the female bees. Any ideas about this? It looks like maybe we should be sampling drones?
  • March 16, 2024 5:59 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 13330377 on 13330302
    Kurt (Administrator)

    That looks more like drone brood and comb not wax moth at all.    This is a sign of healthy activity but you need to eliminate that empty space because the bees will fill it with comb.    This is a topic of bee space and now that resources are coming in, the colony is preparing to expand, and early signs that they are preparing to swarm.      How is the overall population of the hive across the framess in the lower boxes?    I’d suggest to remove those shims and moisture boxes but its hard to see in the pictures.
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