[Hollywood Bees]

Hi all, I did a hive inspection this morning and I pulled off some comb (it got crushed when I removed the frame because it stuck out too much) that had a lot of capped drone brood when I opened it around 40% to 60% of the drone larva had mites on them. I have not seen mites on any of the others bees or deformities. Is it enough of a problem that I should treat it? TIA

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

The best way to know is to do a sugar shake or alcohol wash and get an accurate count of your mites, altho it does sound like you are working on a mite problem. Have you visited Randy Oliver's site ? He details all of the available treatments and the pros and cons of each. He describes testing methods and control programs and generally helps you through the mite maze.

With this information you will be better able to judge for yourself what you want/need to do about mites.

JMO

Rusty

 

[Jon B]

Drone brood is the easiest place to look for mites during the summer. From what you explained, you have a fairly high mite count. You may want to look at a summer treatment.

 

[Hollywood Bees]

I took a second look at the infected brood it isn't that many of them maybe closer to 30% but from what I have been reading that is pretty high.
My state inspection was just last week and she didn't see anything. I am trying the bottom sticky board, but I am open to other options.

Drone brood is the easiest place to look for mites during the summer. From what you explained, you have a fairly high mite count. You may want to look at a summer treatment.

 

[Hollywood Bees]

I did a sticky board for 3 days and it had 7 mites on it. Based on what I have read that isn't enough for treatment (I have roughly 15000 bees). I have a screen bottom board and I have heard of people putting vitamin E oil along the edges of the hive to keep mites under control, do any of you have experience with that?

 

[Robbin]

I did a sticky board for 3 days and it had 7 mites on it. Based on what I have read that isn't enough for treatment (I have roughly 15000 bees). I have a screen bottom board and I have heard of people putting vitamin E oil along the edges of the hive to keep mites under control, do any of you have experience with that?

You don't have a mite problem. I've read a lot of different numbers for mite drop counts. I personally use 25+ in a 24 hour period before I consider treating. I've started treating my Treatment hives with OAV. It's eaiser to treat than it is to count, and I never did a count in mid summer that did not indicate a need to treat, so I treat after the supers come off and going into the dearth, then I treat in late fall going into the winter. I will do drop counts in my TF hives this year when I'm treating my other hives to determine their status. If I'm convinced they have a good shot a survival without treatment, they will stay TF. If they are strong and TF next year, I'll pick my favorite and grow some queens to take over the treated hives.