Drone Brood Frame
Drone Brood Frame
The Drone Brood Frame (Green Drone Comb) offers a non-chemical method to help beekeepers manage Varroa mite populations in the hive. Female Varroa mites are strongly attracted to drone cells because of the longer gestation period of drone bees, making these frames an effective tool for targeted mite control. Used during the spring when colonies naturally raise drones, they allow beekeepers to interrupt the mite’s reproductive cycle without relying on treatments inside the hive.
Key Features and Benefits
- Varroa management: Provides a non-chemical way to reduce mites by targeting drone cells.
- Cell size: 6.4 mm drone-sized cells designed to attract Varroa mites.
- One-piece construction: Plastic deep frame with integrated foundation for durability.
- Beeswax coated: Double coating of beeswax over hexagons encourages acceptance by bees.
- Green frame: Easy-to-identify color in the hive for quick inspections.
- Available sizes: Medium and deep frame options.
Detailed Description
The Drone Brood Frame is designed to simplify mite management by using the Varroa mite’s preference for drone brood to the beekeeper’s advantage. Each frame is a one-piece plastic deep frame and foundation with 6.4 mm cells coated in double-layered beeswax.
Here’s how it works:
- The queen lays unfertilized drone eggs in the green frame.
- Just before the cells are capped, Varroa mites enter to reproduce, taking advantage of the longer development cycle of drones.
- Before the drones hatch, the entire frame is frozen, killing both the mites and the drone brood inside.
- After freezing, the frame is returned to the hive, where the bees clean out the cells and the process can be repeated.
By cycling these frames, beekeepers can reduce mite populations naturally and effectively, particularly in the spring season when drones are abundant.
Specifications:
- Material: One-piece plastic frame with foundation
- Coating: Double beeswax coating
- Cell size: 6.4 mm
- Color: Green for easy identification
- Sizes: Medium and deep frame options
See our entire collection of Synthetic, Organic, and Physical Varroa Mite Treatments.