No varroa, no signs of varroa on a Red Wasp nest.
I had to eliminate a red wasp nest. The nest had brood of all ages from eggs to capped brood so I inspected closely. In brief, I could see no signs of varroa.
I uncapped the brood carefully and closely checked the bottom of the cell because I had sprayed with poison. I figured if there was Varroa I would have killed the mites when I sprayed the wasp nest. I tried to shake out any dead mites, checked to see if mites were dead and attached to the walls of the cell. I could not find any trace of varroa mites in a freshly killed Red Wasp nest. Also I should note I have not heard of mites affecting wasp. I have seen a pic of a mite on a yellow jacket but I really can?t draw conclusions from a single picture.
Blessings
Van,
What is the life cycle of a red wasp from egg to hatching. I suspect the pupa stage is a lot shorter than 11 days. This would make it impossible for mites to develop in time.
Jim
That is a good thought Jim. I really have no knowledge of wasp reproduction. I know to stay away from wasp, been stung several times just walking close to a wasp nest that I was not aware of until it was to late. In this area, Arkansas the Red Wasp are more defensive than the smaller black wasp.
Van,
I did some checking and I could not find any actual number of days.
That is interesting. Here if you walk under a black wasp nest there is a good chance you will be stung. The last few years red wasps seem to bee taking over and I have them over door ways and on my dock roof, I just this evening saw 8 red wasp nest, and if I did not see them I would not know they are there.
Jim