Beekeeping Basics - Uncapping Drone Brood - The Norfolk Honey Co.

We finally found some Drone Brood that we could use to demonstrate how to use the uncapping fork to uncap some drone brood to inspect for the varroa mite. The brood was a little younger than we would have liked but it gives a reasonable demonstration of what to do in order to inspect and claculate the number of varroa that might be in your hive.

[@jeffreyrumpf6841]

I performed this test at a beekeeping class. Hands on is the best way to learn. We were able to find varroa in some brood. I was amazed how effective it was to determine your mite load. Thank you again.

[@hieihachi8801]

nice.. thanks for sharing!.

[@elmaleante420]

Nice video! I haven't found anything like this before I think...

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Agustin,
thanks for your comments, I hope to produce lots more videos that will be of interest.
Stewart

[@Makermook]

Interesting video! Regarding drone brood, is it a problem if I can't find any at all in my hive? I inspected today and there's tons of worker brood in all stages of development, but I didn't see a single drone cell.

[@jacquicottam8530]

How often during the season would you inspect your Drone brood? Horrible question, but what do you do with the uncapped brood? Some beekeepers put it back in the hive for the bees to sort out... what do you advise? Thanks

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Jacqui,
good question, I usually check the drone brood twice, Late Spring and Mid Summer. I'm anticipating the treatments over Winter have worked and don't expect to see high numbers of varroa in the Spring but if I do have a rogue colony with mite build up I'll treat them. Again, in Mid Summer I'm normally looking to treat with MAQS but only those colonies that show a need for treatment so hence the check again.
The frames with uncapped brood go back into the hive and are cleaned up by the workers and any drone brood removed gets left for the birds to feast on!
Stewart

[@jacquicottam8530]

Thanks Stewart, really useful. As you know I keep bees in a school.. and so our poor bees get a raw deal in being looked at a lot! Luckily they are an incredibly laid back colony! To teach the children about Varroa and management we monitor the 'drop' a lot of the time, and with that and looking at the drone brood last year, our colony has very low levels. I put Oxalic acid on at Christmas, and they still have lots of stores , so I am hoping we will get through the winter ok. Thanks again for the videos, our older children are finding them a really useful resource as they are studying for the Junior certificate at the moment. Keep them coming! Jacqui

[@Steel143]

How do you feel about the alcohol wash or sugar shake methods for varroa testing?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi,
Both are appropriate methods of testing for varroa, I usually just slip in the varroa floor and do a count over a few days and then treat if I need to. Perhaps I'll do both of those testing methods in a video to show everyone how I get on!
Stewart

[@Knappa22]

Have you any chickens?
They’d love those grubs!

[@leoaber1250]

Too early for such a test, varroa mite has not yet developed and is invisible. 1-2 days before the drones hatch is the best time to test.

[@ghostofvalor4349]

i feel so bad culling drone brood :/ also they feel like fruit gushers, an american candy...