Bald brood (uncapped pupae) can be an indicator of a colony's response 
to varroa infested cells.  However, there are many factors involved 
behind this observation and there is no perfect one to one match 
between an uncapped pupae and whether it is infested.  At high varroa 
infestations, varroa susceptible colonies will do some of this 
uncapping.  Because they tend to investigate, uncap and remove the 
contents of infested cells slowly it is actually easier to observe this 
behavior in the most susceptible and highly infested colonies.  On the 
other hand, colonies with high levels of varroa specific hygiene will 
respond much more rapidly and effectively to infested cells.  It is 
therefore more difficult to catch them in the act, especially if the 
colony has low infestation because of the hygienic behavior.

 

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