[Sickdog5]

Went into one of my hives the other day. This hive is foundation less and I noticed a lot of capped drone brood on one frame. Should I cut this out to help with the mites?

 

[kilocharlie]

I'd try a fork test and then an alcohol wash first, if no mites, then no. If >3 mites seen visually, then I would be doing SOMETHING, drone brood removal is an option if you are done raising queens for the year. Many other options with the mites, so read up on Randy Oliver's website, www.scientificbeekeeping.com and decide something appropriate in the next week to 10 days. If either test reveals lots of mites, then I would do both - pull drone brood and treat them.

I use an IPM strategy and give them their harshest treatment (formic acid) on August 15th every year (that would equate to February 15th in the Southern Hemisphere), so I usually have zero mites this time of year.