Mites?

[dgc1961]

This morning I seen 3 dead bees on the landing board.  They appeared to be bees just hatched and I noticed that there wings were shrivled up, like they had been burned.

I have heard that this is a sign of mites.  I will do a mite count and if it shows that I have mites, can you medicate now, before I put any honey supers on?  Or is there a better time to medicate?

[BjornBee]

Could be mites, but also poor nutrition, cold die back, and even viral issues, etc. You don't usually see mite levels that bad in spring that would allow shriveled wings. Although when the hive first starts brood production, you will have the mites flooding into the first series of cells available. But that quickly levels off and normal production resumes. So it could be mites, and your tests will show a low level.

[Daddys Girl]

I'd get a mite count and treat with powdered sugar to knock them down before the nectar flows.