You can’t diagnose Varroa mites just by looking at a hive, but there are some pretty common warning signs that something might be going on. Things like deformed wings, uncapped brood, seeing mites on bees, or bees just acting a little “off” are all good cues that it’s time to stop and do a proper mite check.
Not every hive keeps up this time of year, and sometimes it’s not obvious why. Weak hives can struggle with brood, population, or foraging even when everything around them looks great. The key is figuring out what’s holding them back—and knowing when to help them along or when it’s time to move on.
If you’ve ever walked out to find a dead hive and thought, what happened?—you’re not alone. Hive forensics helps you read the clues your bees left behind, understand what went wrong, and protect your colonies moving forward.
Unfortunately, no… Not controlling Varroa will allow them to spread—not only to your other hives but often to all the hives within a few miles of your own bees. Not controlling Varroa in some manner is irresponsible as a beekeeper...
What is the Varroa Mite (Varroa Destructor)? Simply put, it is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on our Western honey bees, Apis Malifera. The Varroa mite is considered the # 1 cause of death in honey bees...
