Hello, we are brand new to beekeeping and very much in the learning phase. We are located just outside Savannah, Georgia.
So, we installed a 3 # package of Italians 15 days ago. We have larvae, some capped brood and a significant amount of nectar. This morning I went out to top off the hive top feeder and checked the mite board and saw about 5 varroa mites. Should I be concerned about this? My understanding is that the mite reproduces with the brood. Will I see a spike in mite population as my brood hatches out? I have a feeling of doom and gloom- I see failure in my future. Am I overreacting?
I am assuming this infestation came with the package, am I correct? We bought from a middle man. Should we contact him and/or the originator? I bet they just laugh at me and tell me to treat...
We are planning to be chemical free. Unfortunately, my husband had some beekeeping experience from his childhood and we started the hive doing what he knew. Once I became more interested (post-installation), I learned about foundationless and small cell! I have convinced my husband that this would be in our best interest but we started with foundation. My plan is to remove the foundation from all nondrawn out frames and install starter strips. Once we have a significant amount of drawn out frames (over the next year or so) I plan to remove and replace frames one at a time. Slowly but surely, right?!
Jeanine
So, we installed a 3 # package of Italians 15 days ago. We have larvae, some capped brood and a significant amount of nectar. This morning I went out to top off the hive top feeder and checked the mite board and saw about 5 varroa mites. Should I be concerned about this? My understanding is that the mite reproduces with the brood. Will I see a spike in mite population as my brood hatches out? I have a feeling of doom and gloom- I see failure in my future. Am I overreacting?
I am assuming this infestation came with the package, am I correct? We bought from a middle man. Should we contact him and/or the originator? I bet they just laugh at me and tell me to treat...
We are planning to be chemical free. Unfortunately, my husband had some beekeeping experience from his childhood and we started the hive doing what he knew. Once I became more interested (post-installation), I learned about foundationless and small cell! I have convinced my husband that this would be in our best interest but we started with foundation. My plan is to remove the foundation from all nondrawn out frames and install starter strips. Once we have a significant amount of drawn out frames (over the next year or so) I plan to remove and replace frames one at a time. Slowly but surely, right?!
Jeanine