Drone brood removal did not adversely affect colony
health as measured by the size of worker populations
or by honey production. Fall worker populations
were similar in the two groups. Average honey
production in the treatment group was significantly
greater than production in the control group during
period 1, similar to production in the control group
during period 2, and perhaps greater overall when
measured over the season (P < 0.07). This suggests
some added benefit from drone brood removal in
addition to the maintenance of lower mite levels.
 
Increased honey production could be a direct result of
lower mite levels, or it could be due to colonies in the
treatment group not needing to support as many adult
drones. Seeley suggested that this might partially
explain his finding that colonies that rear and
care for drones gain less weight than colonies that do
not rear and care for drones. Although both groups in
this experiment reared drones, only the control group
cared for them as adults.

Evaluation of Drone Brood Removal for Management of Varroa
N. W. CALDERONE, JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY Vol. 98, no. 3

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