Brood bee parts on varroa trays - lots

[LeaBaileyBees]

Advice please.

Honey off, quick feed given, apiguard 1 installed on 15th, crown holes covered, varroa boards in. I'm now monitoring mite drop. But there are hundreds of white legs on the varroa boards of some of the hives this morning.

Is this a reaction to the apiguard or are wasps getting in? Do I open up the entrances to allow excess fumes out or close them down further to prevent wasps?

Quick answers appreciated.

 

[drstitson]

sounds like you have hygienic type bees - see the ron hoskins work.

BTW legs or antennae?

 

[LeaBaileyBees]

Mostly legs, but some antennae.

I thought hygienic bees very briefly, but then asked myself - why would they only start this behaviour once I'd put the Apiguard in?

 

[drstitson]

because you aren't monitoring drop at any other time.

no board: no bits.

 

[LeaBaileyBees]

Good point!

So, ratio of 2 antennae to 6 legs per immature bee explains many more legs than antennae. Can I assume that the wasps have been in early to eat the head, thorax and abdomens?

 

[drstitson]

no - the corpses are either still on the top of the mesh floors. or more likely, removed by the COOP bees.