Here’s how drone brood removal and screened bottom boards help reduce mite populations
Drone brood removal and screened bottom boards are effective non-chemical tools for managing Varroa mite populations in beehives, working through different mechanisms:
1. Drone Brood Removal
- Varroa mites prefer to reproduce in drone brood because drone cells are larger and take longer to develop. This gives mites more time to complete multiple reproductive cycles in a single cell, making drone brood a hotspot for mite multiplication.
- How it works: Beekeepers introduce or allow the bees to create frames predominantly filled with drone cells. Once these frames are mostly capped (after about 21 days), they are removed from the hive and either frozen or destroyed, killing both the drones and the mites inside[1][2].
- Effect: This method can physically remove a significant proportion of reproducing mites without chemicals and can be repeated throughout the active brood season for ongoing effect[2].
- Limitations: On its own, it cannot eliminate mites but is a strong method to reduce infestation pressure as part of an integrated approach.
2. Screened Bottom Boards
- How it works: These are hive floors with a wire mesh screen in place of the solid wood floor, allowing debris and mites to fall through. When bees groom themselves or each other and dislodge mites, or when mites drop off naturally, the mesh prevents mites from climbing back into the hive[3][2].
- Effect: Studies show screened bottom boards can modestly reduce mite reinfestation rates and lower the overall number of mites in a hive. The reduction is typically in the range of 10–15% compared to solid bottom boards, but every little bit helps when used in combination with other methods[3].
- Additional Benefits: They also improve ventilation and may help control hive moisture.
Summary Table
| Method | How It Helps Reduce Mites | Best Used When |
| Drone Brood Removal | Physically removes mites inside drone brood | Regularly during brood rearing season |
| Screened Bottom Boards | Reduces reinfestation by allowing fallen mites to drop out | All year, especially in combination with other controls |
In Summary
Both methods are most effective as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) plan and are especially helpful for beekeepers seeking non-chemical approaches to mite control[1][3][2].
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- https://extension.psu.edu/methods-to-control-varroa-mites-an-integrated-pest-management-approach
- https://www.perfectbee.com/a-healthy-beehive/threats-to-bees/best-practices-to-reduce-the-threat-of-varroa
- https://www.ento.vt.edu/the-bee-group-at-vt/beekeeping/mites.html
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