dudley
House Bee
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 154
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Kent uk
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2 apiary's 1 with 3 hives 2nd with 5 hives
It is not offen you get to see wild comb but I had the opportunity to inspect a mass of brood comb for varroa that had naturally fallen down a chimney the other day. (photos are on my recent thread) And quess what? When I broke open the drone cells I couldn't find a single mite. There were plenty of cells to choose from, but each time I opened them up, no mites to be seen.
If i am correct and they have zero or a really low varroa count do you think this is to due to the bees cleaning themselves and dropping the mites some 6mts to the ground down the chimney or simply that wild bees dont have varroa?
I have still kept the brood and wondered if my bee inspector would want to take a look to confirm my findings, I will call him tomorrow.
Steve.
If i am correct and they have zero or a really low varroa count do you think this is to due to the bees cleaning themselves and dropping the mites some 6mts to the ground down the chimney or simply that wild bees dont have varroa?
I have still kept the brood and wondered if my bee inspector would want to take a look to confirm my findings, I will call him tomorrow.
Steve.