Why have I no Varroa?

[Tigger]

Since July 2022 I haven't seen any varroa, despite have boards on a few times.
I've had them on again for the last week but still I can't see any.
Three swarms arrived here early this summer and even they have none.

Is this unusual? Why might it be?

Thanks.

 

[Sutty]

Try a oa vape and see if you still think they have none.
Also - do you know what they look like? Pretty small!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Since July 2022 I haven't seen any varroa, despite have boards on a few times.
I've had them on again for the last week but still I can't see any.
Three swarms arrived here early this summer and even they have none.

Is this unusual? Why might it be?

Thanks.

You need to do an accelerated drop with a vape or a sugar roll. Natural drop is of little use in monitoring infestation accurately

 

[ericbeaumont]

I can't see any

Boards are an unreliable indicator of infestation as insects may remove dead varroa.

Familiarise yourself with the size & shape of varroa before assuming your colonies have none. Trust me, they do.

Did you coat the board with a film of cooking oil?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Since July 2022 I haven't seen any varroa, despite have boards on a few times.
I've had them on again for the last week but still I can't see any.
Three swarms arrived here early this summer and even they have none.

Is this unusual? Why might it be?

Thanks.

It's a strange phenomenon


called wishful thinking

 

[John stockburn]

Since July 2022 I haven't seen any varroa, despite have boards on a few times.
I've had them on again for the last week but still I can't see any.
Three swarms arrived here early this summer and even they have none.

Is this unusual? Why might it be?

Thanks.

Should have gone to speck savers

 

[thorn]

You can have some of mine if you feel you're missing out.

 

[pargyle]

There's a lot of reasons for colonies with low level mite infestation - location, local climates, proximity of colones with mites, foraging area and your bees, You COULD have low level infestation which may not show up on the inspecion board- but, if there are varroa in the area - the likelihood is that there will be varroa in your colonies.

You really need to do a proper test to be sure - a sugar roll or an accelerated drop with an OA Vape.