Stunning that a varroa mite has the intelligence to know the difference between a drone or worker cell and know that the drone cell is a better option. Stunning.
Oh, my gosh, THANK YOU for finally explaining the process completely! I keep seeing other videos where other beekeepers explain parts, but not the entire process. Question: would you do this in a weak colony? I have a colony that swarmed and is now rebuilding with a new queen and I"m not sure if I should put the green drone frame in it.
So I've got a new package bees colony and it's been in the 8 frame deep hive body for almost 4 weeks. That brood box was already filled with fully capped comb from the previous colony which didn't make it through the winter. For a few reasons I'm going to be installing the 2nd hive body with all new undrawn frames. I have 2 brand new undrawn drone comb frames as well. Should I have both in the 2nd hive body when I add it and then remove one once they're drawn? Only 1? Should I put one or both of them into the lower hive body instead? Then when I do begin this rotation of letting one get filled up and swapped out with the other should they be in the top box or the bottom (or just look wherever the queen happens to be laying)? Or should I have 4 drone frames total, so theres 1 in the top box and one in the bottom box at all times?
Stunning that a varroa mite has the intelligence to know the difference between a drone or worker cell and know that the drone cell is a better option. Stunning.
Using drone foundation this week and this was the best explanation I found, thanks
Thank you. I'm glad it helped
Oh, my gosh, THANK YOU for finally explaining the process completely! I keep seeing other videos where other beekeepers explain parts, but not the entire process. Question: would you do this in a weak colony? I have a colony that swarmed and is now rebuilding with a new queen and I"m not sure if I should put the green drone frame in it.
You could do this with any sized colony. The important thing to remember is the timing. Leave it in too long and you're breathing mites.
I heard somewhere it was a way to get larger workers and it was debatable whether that had any benefit.
This makes more sense
No drone comb makes drones not workers.
So I've got a new package bees colony and it's been in the 8 frame deep hive body for almost 4 weeks. That brood box was already filled with fully capped comb from the previous colony which didn't make it through the winter. For a few reasons I'm going to be installing the 2nd hive body with all new undrawn frames. I have 2 brand new undrawn drone comb frames as well. Should I have both in the 2nd hive body when I add it and then remove one once they're drawn? Only 1? Should I put one or both of them into the lower hive body instead? Then when I do begin this rotation of letting one get filled up and swapped out with the other should they be in the top box or the bottom (or just look wherever the queen happens to be laying)? Or should I have 4 drone frames total, so theres 1 in the top box and one in the bottom box at all times?
Good question. I was hoping to see some answers here
Ok for the concept but do you have data ? What % of mites are removed?
I don't use this method. I'm just telling you how it's done. If you're looking for data, I'm sure there's tons of it on the internet somewhere
Should I put a green drone frame in as soon as I install a nuc? And if so, how long should I leave it in for please
Short answer is no. You would want to allow the colony to spend there resourses building their population before you start
Will the dead drones start to rot inside the capped cells?
The worer bees will clean them out before they start to rot.
outstanding