Varroa?

[Bob D]

Being new and I'm not exactly sure how to do this, I entered my hive today. I looked for the raised Drone Cappings. I removed 2 cappings and 2 Drone Larva. Then I look at them both with a magnifying glass. I saw nothing on one of them and what appears to be one (1) mite on the other.

it was a little black spot on the larva that when I layed the larva on the plate the black spot seemed to move to a very slightly different location then stopped. I'm assuming that is a Varroa? After moving both larva's all around, it appears to be the only one.

Should I have pulled out more? Is 1 on 2 larva a bad sign,normal/average or what? I haven't a clue.

I'm still getting a few now nearly formed pupa being dragged out with shriveled wings. Now they are not all white, but starting to get a little color (the pupa being carried out). So, any ideas?

Thanks?

[The Honey House]

Hey Neighbor!

I PM'd you.

[Michael Bush]

Yes that's a varroa. Uncap about 40 more or so and count all the mites and divide by the number of larvae. If you have about 10 or 20 mites, you have a few mites. If you have 200 mites or so for that many larvae you have a problem.

You can also do a sugar roll or some kind of drop count, either on a tray below the SBB or a sticky board.

Monitoring is the first step.