Father Fox
New Bee
Simple instructions required please.
Drone cull for varroa control, easy?
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Put a drawn (preferably) super frame at the edge of the brood nest. The bees will make drone comb from the bottom bars which you can slice off after it's capped. Don't do it too early in the season.
I had to sacrifice hundreds of drones made under the bottom bars into an eke under a bailey comb change and there wasn't a single mite.
I had to sacrifice hundreds of drones made under the bottom bars into an eke under a bailey comb change and there wasn't a single mite.
OP
Father Fox
New Bee
Midland Beek
Drone Bee
Or fit drone base foundation into one of your frames to get a frame of drones.
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I usually do it in June but then I keep an eye on the strength of the colony especially how many drones they are making.
Is now a good time? or too soon in the season?
There is a very good article here. http://scientificbeekeeping.com/fighting-varroa-biotechnical-tactics-ii/
Read it all, it is very useful, as is the rest of the site
There is a bit about making the queen lay drones sequentially so that more mites are trapped and you do that by letting the bees make their own comb. I don't know whether that has any advantages over the bees drawing a drone frame.
I use drone trapping (super frame) with the frame going in early in the season, around mid April and coming out before I use Apiguard. Drone brood can be removed monthly and I usually get 4 cycles. I leave the drone to develop in colonies I want to use for breading but only for the first 2 cycles. If you use a super frame you can only at best hope to keep varroa numbers from rapidly building up. To keep varroa levels flat or reduce the numbers you would need to increase the size or numbers of drone culling frames.
The article mentions the added benefit of reduced brace comb, something I haven't noticed.
The article also highlights the importance of replacing old comb with drone size cells. Another good reason for regular brood comb replacement.
Thanks for the link to the article.
Alec
The article mentions the added benefit of reduced brace comb, something I haven't noticed.
The article also highlights the importance of replacing old comb with drone size cells. Another good reason for regular brood comb replacement.
Thanks for the link to the article.
Alec
