Black mess on varroa board

BB2 · May 28, 2011, 05:25:36 AM

Hi to all,

Discovered this forum and like it so making a first post to ask is there any cause for alarm after finding this black substance on the varroa board under a newly installed (one week) nucleus in a Langstroth hive.

There are only 5/6 varroa on the board and the bees are flying and active despite poor weather at present.

Any positive diagnosis please.

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G3farms · May 28, 2011, 08:09:19 AM

bee poop

BB2 · May 28, 2011, 08:13:55 AM

Hey!
Are you saying the big black blob almost at centre is bee poop!!??

That's a big pile of dung for a little bee!

How do they get it in one pile.

Would appreciate the how, what and when please but thanks for the reply.

Kathyp · May 28, 2011, 10:13:09 AM

don't know what made the black glob, but other insects and critters get on your slide in. it's a great place for mice to nest if you leave them in over the winter ;-)

if the hive looks and acts healthy, stuff like that is probably not to important...

G3farms · May 28, 2011, 10:28:32 AM

Quote from: BB2 on May 28, 2011, 08:13:55 AM
How do they get it in one pile.

squat and squeeze :-D

AllenF · May 31, 2011, 08:41:41 PM

Women do seem to go the bathroom in groups........................

annette · May 31, 2011, 08:48:17 PM

I'm with Kathy on this one. Sometimes I find strange looking stuff on the bottom board, but I don't worry about it when the hive is otherwise healthy looking.

Michael Bush · June 01, 2011, 06:54:55 AM

Something other than a bee probably was scavenging food from the tray and left some feces behind.