As Drone Rearing Winds Down, Should the Mites Be Concentrated?

Adam Foster Collins · August 13, 2011, 10:54:29 PM

Hey there,

Going through the hives today, I can see that the queen has ceased production of drones, and there are not many remaining in their cells. There are only a smattering of capped drone cells throughout the hives.

My question:

In the last couple of weeks of drone production in the hives, will the mites become concentrated within these few remaining cells? Should I expect to find spiking varroa counts in scratched brood comb at this point in the season?

Thanks,

Adam

AllenF · August 14, 2011, 09:18:18 AM

Mites have been building all year. Now is a good time to start fall treatments.

BrentX · August 15, 2011, 10:53:28 PM

I am thinking the mites will nest in what is available. When fewer drones are in brood the mites adapt and use what is available.

Adam Foster Collins · August 16, 2011, 12:13:28 AM

That's what I was thinking, and I have seen no mites in the drone brood I have pulled, and no bees with DWV as I did by this time last year.

Adam

AR Beekeeper · August 16, 2011, 03:34:39 PM

The mites will be primarily in the worker brood. Often the mites will be on the side walls of the cell when you remove a pupa and will not be seen. Look also for the white areas on the cell walls where the mite defecated.

Algonam · August 18, 2011, 05:41:58 PM

I just checked our hives today and we have capped drone cells in a few spots. I am not familiar with SHB or mites. We looked at everything carefully and didn't see anything that looked unusual. Keep in mind this is our first year at it.
We don't know what it means to have new drones at this time of year. Is it good or bad?

Michael Bush · August 18, 2011, 09:16:50 PM

With small cell I think they are much more concentrated in the drones. With large cell the mites prefer the drones but don't seem to mind the workers a bit.

Adam Foster Collins · August 18, 2011, 11:54:26 PM

I'm on natural comb, Michael. I have some very tiny workers, but my bees tend to vary quite a bit in size. The drones can be huge.

Adam

Michael Bush · August 19, 2011, 02:10:55 AM

Drones on natural comb seem to vary a lot. Some look like monsters from outer space... the first time I saw one of those I wondered what kind of insect it was...