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Author Topic: Should I remove drone comb to reduce varroa mites  (Read 3055 times)

Offline seabees

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Should I remove drone comb to reduce varroa mites
« on: May 20, 2011, 01:13:16 am »
I formed 2 nucs from 1 hive so now I have 3 . They are all doing fine. I seem to have queens. Anyhow my question is now that I don't need the drones anymore should I cut out any drone comb to reduce varroa mites? I use 10 frame deeps, top entrance, SBB,homemade powdered sugar every 10 days, leave them lots of honey and pollen,alternate a frame of small cell wax foundation with  a frame of starter strip.  I still have more mites than I think is okay!
Debbie

Offline AllenF

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Re: Should I remove drone comb to reduce varroa mites
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2011, 02:55:11 pm »
Removing drone brood is a method or killing some mites but it is kinda labor intensive.  I bought 2 of those green drone frames years ago and used them one.  Not for me I guess.   A break in the brood cycle helps a little also when you make splits and let them raise their own queen.   

Online Michael Bush

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Re: Should I remove drone comb to reduce varroa mites
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2011, 12:15:17 am »
If there are a lot of mites in the drone brood, sure... but if not, I'd leave it.
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Offline jmblakeney

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Re: Should I remove drone comb to reduce varroa mites
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2011, 12:29:51 am »
If there are a lot of mites in the drone brood, sure

Michael, how do you know if there mites in the drone brood or not?

James
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: Should I remove drone comb to reduce varroa mites
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2011, 01:36:02 am »
You take an uncapping fork and pull a bunch out and look.  If they are heavily infested, you pull the rest out.  Or if you don't have an uncapping fork, make do with something else.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline seabees

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Re: Should I remove drone comb to reduce varroa mites
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2011, 02:16:06 am »
Great answer. I'm going to do that.
Debbie

 

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