LLOYDSPEAR wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Note that an article by Tom Seeley in the June Bee Culture says that if you
> increase the amount of drone brood produced, you will decrease honey
> production. However, this is a big "if", as the comparison is with the
> amount of drone brood that would be produced with your present frames. Tom
> has documented that feral bees dedicate approximately 20% of their cells to
> drone production. Do your frames contain less than 20% drone cells?
>
> Hi Lloyd and All,
The point of 20% of the cells in a hive are drone , is an important fact. Many
new and
even old beekeepers remove drone cells . only to have the bees continue to build
more, to get the hive in balance.Don't fight nature.Drone brood is my window
to Varroa. I take a cappings scracther and lift out capped drone brood and check
for mites.
Drone foundation would be a good tool for IPM.
Best Regards
Roy
Tahuya River Apiaries
Tahuya Wa. US