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From:
Lloyd Spear <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lloyd Spear <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 16 Feb 2005 12:26:41 -0500
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Aaron said "I'm assembling shallow frames to put in my
deep bodies with the intent of cutting the capped drone brood 3 or 4 times a
season.  It's sanctioned, it's effective, and test data is reproducable."

Yes, presumably results from a multi-year test are about to be
published and are very positive.  That is, a procedure to destroy
drones in capped cells 3-4 times a year (in the Northeast) and
therefore destroy varroa inside the cells.  While waiting for
publication the preliminary word is that the data will show a
substantial drop in fall Varroa counts compared to controls.

But...why not use drone foundation?  It seems to me that is a lot more
efficient vis a vis making the bees constantly draw more cells.  The
only downside is using frames with drone foundation requires freezer
space, compared to just cutting the drone cells from the frames.
Nonetheless, in 2004 I finished my 3rd year of freezing sealed drone
cells.  I use 1 frame per hive and can get up to 5 full sealed frames
per hive a year.  I am amazed at how long (in the fall) the queen will
lay in these if they are made available.  I have not run with
controls, but my observation is that when drone brood is regularly
frozen there are far fewer Varroa in the fall.  This makes sense, as
by freezing in April and May the small spring Varroa population is not
allowed to quickly expand.


--
Lloyd Spear
Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacture of equipment for round comb honey sections,
Sundance Pollen Traps, and producer of Sundance custom labels.
Contact your dealer or www.RossRounds.com

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