Pollen mites

[stewart carnan]

I have stored a few frames of sealed honey with the intention of giving it to the bees if needed on the same frames are pollen mites once the mites are finished turning the pollen to saw dust should i kill them or leave them if the feeling is to kill what is the method.

 

[Itchy]

I have stored a few frames of sealed honey with the intention of giving it to the bees if needed on the same frames are pollen mites once the mites are finished turning the pollen to saw dust should i kill them or leave them if the feeling is to kill what is the method.

A spell in the freezer will kill them

 

[masterBK]

Several species of mite in the hive . The mite that beekeepers refer to as the Pollen mite, Carpoglyphus lactis was, if I remember correctly, originally discovered on prunes feeding on the yeast on the surface of the fruit (and so called the prune mite). This microscopic pink mite doesn't feed off the pollen but eats the fungal mycelium of Bettsia alvei (the fungus associated with mouldy pollen). It is a harmless astigmatid mite getting rid of a fungus that turns cells of pollen into rock hard pellets that bees have difficulty moving so this mite is rendering the cells usuable again ie it is on our side so why kill it!.

 

[stewart carnan]

Pollen mite

Thanks for your advice.