I performed this test at a beekeeping class. Hands on is the best way to learn. We were able to find varroa in some brood. I was amazed how effective it was to determine your mite load. Thank you again.
@elmaleante4208 жыл бұрын
Nice video! I haven't found anything like this before I think...
@TheNorfolkHoneyCo8 жыл бұрын
Hi Agustin, thanks for your comments, I hope to produce lots more videos that will be of interest. Stewart
@Makermook4 жыл бұрын
Interesting video! Regarding drone brood, is it a problem if I can't find any at all in my hive? I inspected today and there's tons of worker brood in all stages of development, but I didn't see a single drone cell.
@jacquicottam85306 жыл бұрын
How often during the season would you inspect your Drone brood? Horrible question, but what do you do with the uncapped brood? Some beekeepers put it back in the hive for the bees to sort out... what do you advise? Thanks
@TheNorfolkHoneyCo6 жыл бұрын
Hi Jacqui, good question, I usually check the drone brood twice, Late Spring and Mid Summer. I'm anticipating the treatments over Winter have worked and don't expect to see high numbers of varroa in the Spring but if I do have a rogue colony with mite build up I'll treat them. Again, in Mid Summer I'm normally looking to treat with MAQS but only those colonies that show a need for treatment so hence the check again. The frames with uncapped brood go back into the hive and are cleaned up by the workers and any drone brood removed gets left for the birds to feast on! Stewart
@jacquicottam85306 жыл бұрын
Thanks Stewart, really useful. As you know I keep bees in a school.. and so our poor bees get a raw deal in being looked at a lot! Luckily they are an incredibly laid back colony! To teach the children about Varroa and management we monitor the 'drop' a lot of the time, and with that and looking at the drone brood last year, our colony has very low levels. I put Oxalic acid on at Christmas, and they still have lots of stores , so I am hoping we will get through the winter ok. Thanks again for the videos, our older children are finding them a really useful resource as they are studying for the Junior certificate at the moment. Keep them coming! Jacqui
@hieihachi88016 жыл бұрын
nice.. thanks for sharing!.
@Steel1437 жыл бұрын
How do you feel about the alcohol wash or sugar shake methods for varroa testing?
@TheNorfolkHoneyCo7 жыл бұрын
Hi, Both are appropriate methods of testing for varroa, I usually just slip in the varroa floor and do a count over a few days and then treat if I need to. Perhaps I'll do both of those testing methods in a video to show everyone how I get on! Stewart
@Knappa224 жыл бұрын
Have you any chickens? They’d love those grubs!
@leoaber12503 жыл бұрын
Too early for such a test, varroa mite has not yet developed and is invisible. 1-2 days before the drones hatch is the best time to test.
@ghostofvalor43492 жыл бұрын
i feel so bad culling drone brood :/ also they feel like fruit gushers, an american candy...