>>Why does pale colored mites indicate there is emerging brood in a hive?
>
>The pail color is an immature mite which can happen only during
>reproduction cycle inside capped brood cell. When the bee emerges these
fall
>off. They do not count as they cannot cause future damage.
>Can you shed any light on this question?
>I have seen some fairly pale mites in alcohol shakes, so I gather 
>they at least were able to catch a bee and hitch a ride.

The problem is in term Pale: meaning LIGHT in color if they are light brown
then they are mated and you count them.
                                     Pale: meaning WHITE Cream Yellowish it
is immature and will die. Do not count those; they are just debris caught in
your sample.
The LINK I given is from Dr Jeff Harris of Baton Rouge lab and have
excellent pictures.
http://www.mitegone.com/pdfpages/Varroa%20Reproductions%20Guideline.pdf

Bill Ruzicka

Bill's Honey Farm - Home of the MiteGone Formic Acid Treatment
Kelowna, British Columbia,  CANADA
Tel/Fax: 1-250-762-8156 (the best way to reach me is by phone Pacific Time)
Email: [log in to unmask] Website: www.mitegone.com 

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