Floor debris

pbh4 · Apr 10, 2011

Can anyone point me to any resources (books, websites etc) that explain how to interpret the debris on the OMF board?

How are you supposed to find varroa mites amongst all the other crap? I saw someone suggest floating them off in methylated spirits. Is that the way to do it?

Thanks,

Paul

(still bewildered by how many things the books don't tell you!)

Mike a · Apr 10, 2011

You can spot varroa very easily.

An extreme example

pbh4 · Apr 10, 2011

Mike a said:
You can spot varroa very easily.

An extreme example
...

My board didn't look anything like that!

But I was wondering what all the other stuff is - the stuff that's not varroa. I recognised little kidney shaped lumps of pollen. Also, there were piles of biscuit coloured "sawdust" - is that brood cappings? What are the glassy bits in your picture? I have them too.

Paul

Tom Bick · Apr 11, 2011

Yes the biscuit coloured sawdust as you put it will more than likely be brood cappings or cappings of stores although I fined they tend to be lighter in colour than brood cappings and the position on the tray will give you an indication as to the most recent frames to have plenty of emerging bees.

The glassy bits again as you put it are flakes of wax that the bees have dropped or have fallen from the bees

amyleighhoney · Apr 11, 2011

Thanks for the image.. a picture is worth a thousand words.

oliver90owner · Apr 11, 2011

How are you supposed to find varroa mites amongst all the other crap

You could use a magnifying glass, or similar, if your eyesight is not quite up to 20:20.

RAB

biglongdarren · Apr 11, 2011

more like how are you meant to find the other crap amoungst all them varroa..;o)

Floor debris

Help Support Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum:

pbh4

House Bee

Mike a

Drone Bee

pbh4

House Bee

Tom Bick

Guest

amyleighhoney

New Bee

oliver90owner

Queen Bee

biglongdarren

Drone Bee

Similar threads

Latest posts

Floor debris

Help Support Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum:

pbh4

House Bee

Mike a

Drone Bee

pbh4

House Bee

Tom Bick

Guest

amyleighhoney

New Bee

oliver90owner

Queen Bee

biglongdarren

Drone Bee

Similar threads

Latest posts

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!