Dragging out drones...hygenic behavior?

**gardenbees** · 04-12-2007, 06:40 AM

Ok, we touched on this topic in another thread but I'd like to explore it further. From what I have read varroa mites require pretty much the whole bee life cycle in order to produce sexually mature females. My hives have been dragging out drones who are obviously underdeveloped and show signs of mite damage but I see very few drones who have been allowed to develop to maturity who are obviously crippled by varroa damage. I realize my hives have a significant mite load and will be treating them but was wanting to get your opinion on this. Theresa.

**Dan Williamson** · 04-12-2007, 06:56 AM

Its possible that it is mite damage... Its also possible they are dragging out drones due to this cold snap. I've seen a few drones out front as well.

Mine is because of these cold temps. Either they were chilled or bees decided they didn't need them yet. I had a drone frame full of eggs a week ago. Pulled a frame quickly day before yesterday and half of them are gone. Bees ate them or something. They have plenty of stores. Its just gotten very cold and stayed cold for 10 days now. No break until Monday or so. Queens have drastically reduced laying even with pollen patties on the hives.

**gardenbees** · 04-12-2007, 07:08 AM

Because it happens fairly regularly despite the temps and it had been consistently in the 50's at night for two weeks before this recent 1 day arctic blast. It also appears pretty obvious that their wings are deformed or underdevelped but I suppose that could be because they have not finished growing yet. Theresa.

**ScadsOBees** · 04-12-2007, 07:33 AM

Have you done any mite counts? If it is due to mites, it is early so you might run into some problems.

You might want to be a powder sugar shake or equivelent to find out if it is a mite problem. If so, then you would want to do some kind of treatment.

Rick

**gardenbees** · 04-12-2007, 01:15 PM

Let me clarify,
I don't want to know if I have a mite problem. I know I do, I was just wondering if this dragging out the drones before the mites can start breeding is a good trait and will it have an affect on the overal mite population? Has anyone done any research and is this considered hygenic behavior? Theresa.

**Dan Williamson** · 04-12-2007, 01:21 PM

can't hurt.

**MountainCamp** · 04-12-2007, 01:49 PM

The chewing our of brood that is being preyed on by mites is thought to be part of the hygenic behavior.

Mites reproduce within the capped cell. The first egg is laid 60 hours after capping and then every 30 hours. It takes the female 6 - 7 days to mature and male 5 - 6 days

The mites also mate within the cell. Only the mature mated females leave the cell, the males and inmature females die.

http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/PDFs/Varroa_Mites_PMP1.pdf

**gardenbees** · 04-12-2007, 02:27 PM

From my calculations then, the drones that are being dragged out have imature mites attatched to them. I wonder if the mites can reach maturity outside of the capped cell if they jump off before the drone is discarded in front of the hive? Or do they have to come to maturity within the confines of the capped cell? Theresa.

**MountainCamp** · 04-12-2007, 07:19 PM

They must mature and mate within the confines of a caped cell. Everything that I have ever read claimed that the inmature females and males do not leave the cell and die.