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Author Topic: Mites On Queens  (Read 4462 times)

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Offline Jen

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Mites On Queens
« on: April 01, 2021, 03:40:51 pm »
In the beginning of my beekeeping adventures, that would be 15+ years now, I've seen mite attacks from just a few mites on my sticky boards, to mite attacks in the thousands. As the hive dwindles I notice that the queen is not affected by the mites. The queen has no mites on her body! Why is this?
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Offline The15thMember

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Re: Mites On Queens
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2021, 03:49:23 pm »
Queens do get mites on them occasionally, but I don't believe they are more or less attractive to the mites than any other bees, so the probability that a mite will pick out the queen in all those thousands of bees in the hive just isn't there, I guess.  Here's a short article and a picture of a queen with a varroa mite on her back.
https://www.honeybeesuite.com/seeking-taste-royal-blood/

I don't know this, but I'd also guess that since the queen's retinue grooms her regularly, they may remove any mites that get on her. 
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Offline iddee

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Re: Mites On Queens
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2021, 05:44:14 pm »
What member said X 2.
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Mites On Queens
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2021, 09:50:27 am »
I think Queens without mites might be attributed to the retinue of bees that groom her and feed her.   Also, a Queen will emerge from the Queen cell in 16 days.  Mites prefer a longer time in the cell which is why they prefer Drone larvae.  Drones will emerge after 24 days.

I reread 15thMember's post and see that we are in agreement about the queen's retinue.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Mites On Queens
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2021, 12:32:27 pm »
Fascinating! and Of Course! I don't know why the grooming factor didn't occur to me. I thought that maybe the queens abdomen was tougher and the mites couldn't bite into it. Thanks!  ;D
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