Culling drones to reduce varroa infestation

[The Riviera Kid]

I have just been reading the thread about drone culling as a chemical-free method of controlling varroa.

Rather than putting in special frames to attract drone brood how about just picking capped drone brood off of the frame with the hive tool when doing and inspection?

Does this technique have an impact on the operation of the colony?

If I destroy drone brood will the queen realise there is a drone deficiency and simply lay loads more drone eggs?

What percentage of drone brood would have to be destroyed to make a significant impact on varroa levels?

 

[xwb]

If you're running deep frames, put one shallow frame in the hive and the bees will build drone comb on the bottom of it which you can cut off as and when you choose. It seems to me like a very long process destroying individual drone cells.....

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have just been reading the thread about drone culling as a chemical-free method of controlling varroa.

Rather than putting in special frames to attract drone brood how about just picking capped drone brood off of the frame with the hive tool when doing and inspection?

I know they are only insects but I think they may get wind of what you are doing and the third or fourth time you go in you may get surprised. Just a thought. A quickly stolen half frame seems much a much less invasive way to go.

 

[Finman]

.
With drone culling you may weed 50% of mites. Not more. You need chemicals too.

 

[justme]

If you're running deep frames, put one shallow frame in the hive and the bees will build drone comb on the bottom of it which you can cut off as and when you choose. It seems to me like a very long process destroying individual drone cells.....[/QUOTE]

I did just that on one colony yesterday and the other today. Using an uncapping tool does a lot more that one at a time, but can make a bit of a mess. Yesterdays attempt wasn't too bad but todays where they had built from scratch, no foundation was a bit messy. Using OSB's though means all frames are the same size so I dont have any super frames at the mo.

 

[adrian wilford]

one thought is that we need plenty of the right drones to mate with queens, dont destroy them all, may help with some reduction in varroa mites but at what cost to having drones for mating. the only time i destroy drones is when un-capping them to check varroa levels.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

one thought is that we need plenty of the right drones to mate with queens, dont destroy them all, may help with some reduction in varroa mites but at what cost to having drones for mating. the only time i destroy drones is when un-capping them to check varroa levels.

Agreed, I've heard several concerns from those more knowledgable than me that drone culling could lead to a shortage of drones. Personally I'll be using a drone culling frame as part of IPM, but only actuallly killing where a sample of brood shows significant amounts of varroa, otherwise let them develop.

 

[The Riviera Kid]

thanks for the info. I open drone cells often to check for varroa.

There are several colonies around here (at least 3 in the village) so I don't think that there will be a shortage of mating drones unless we all decided to go on a cull!

Thanks once again for the help.

Cheers

Simon

 

[Beezy]

I was reading the other drone culling thread too, and someone mentioned that drone culling should only be done in summer. Is this correct? Is it best to let them develop now and then cull some in a few months? I got my nuc last June so haven't yet experienced Spring varroa management.

 

[Midland Beek]

Forking drone brood is a bit fiddly and in terms of varroa control is not that productive. I fork drone brood to get an idea of infestation levels, but's that all.

 

[DanBee]

Agreed, I've heard several concerns from those more knowledgable than me that drone culling could lead to a shortage of drones. Personally I'll be using a drone culling frame as part of IPM, but only actuallly killing where a sample of brood shows significant amounts of varroa, otherwise let them develop.

Exactly. Only treat (i.e. remove) when the measure indicates a mite problem. Removing drones from colonies susceptible to mites, and leaving drones in colonies apparently insusceptible to mites, will have a clear impact on mating ability for each type of colony

Anyone hear Mr. Chandler's rambling address at Stoneleigh? Apparently we all cull every last drone anyway, it's standard practice don't you know