SHOOK MITE COUNTS FROM DRONE BROOD

The photo shows the pattern of varroa mites shaken from a frozen frame of drone brood.  The frame was about 35% filled with capped brood.  Given that there are about 3,500 cells on each side of the frame, there were roughly 1,000 drones in the sample.  There are about 300 mites in this photo.  The photo represents about 1/3 of the sample results.  NOTE: DRONE BROOD HAS A CREAMY, NUTTY FLAVOR. I know, an acquired taste!

Nearly every drone cell had at least one mite.
 

GOLDENROD FLOW

 The Goldenrod flow has started.  Sometimes it is just pollen flow, but the possibility of nectar keeps the beekeeper hopeful with room for honey above the nest.