>Using drone comb to trap and reduce mites can work but obviously has to be
>very efficienly managed or else too many drones and thousands of mites are
>released into the hive!  But I don't like the idea because I think it will
>be putting environmental pressure onto the mites for the selection of those
>mites that 'prefer' worker brood.  However I don't understand the biological
>interactions well enough to work out if that would be even more harmful to
>beekeeping.  Can anyone offer a suggestion?
 
Glyn,
 
I am not an expert and I have never tried this method of traping mites.
However, I do not see how it will introduce excess drones, or thousands of
mites or select for worker brood.
 
The method, as I understand it, is to confine the queen so that all brood
can be disposed of.  She will be laying in any event and the mites will be
entering cells in any event.  The only negative I can see is that in
destroying brood, there will be fewer bees emerging in a few weeks.
 
If I have missed something, I hope someone will let me know.
 
Eric
Eric Abell
Gibbons, Alberta Canada
(403) 998 3143
[log in to unmask]