I am in central NC and started a full inspection with mite counts of most
of my colonies.
I was not entirely surprised to see very little brood in most of my
colonies, and evidence the colony (or queen) took a break altogether as I
would often find just a smattering of capped brood, or capped brood and
eggs only, and almost no larvae.  I had noticed this in the past couple of
years but assumed it was not persistent throughout the majority of the
colonies.  I did some significant OA vaporizations in early December
assuming that was when the colonies were most likely brood free or close to
it.  Now I am rushing to get in OA while these have so little brood and so
many mites.

Mite counts have been high all around after being low through the summer
months (many with 0 mites in the samples for 2 straight checks).  They vary
now, with most having more than 10 per 1/2 cup sample of bees.

First, I wonder why a break in brood rearing occurs this time of the year
in NC.  Perhaps as a result of the onset of the first truly cold nights and
short days?  We maintain fairly warm days and nights right up until late
October in most years.  Our first freeze is usually by mid to late
November.  With eggs appearing in many of them and an assumption that the
colonies will be resuming at least limited brood rearing, it is odd that
they choose this time of year to seemingly stop altogether for 2-3 weeks,
then start right back.

And is it also conceivable that the higher sample rates are BECAUSE there
is so little capped brood for the mites to occupy and no larvae
reaching the stage to be capped soon?  Would the sample rates be higher
because most if not all of the adult mites are on adult bees?

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