Debris Diagnosis
Arbeiten am Bienenstand
The varroa board under the screened bottom board tells you what is going on in the colony without lifting the cover.
The varroa board under the screened bottom board tells you what is going on in the colony without lifting the cover. Inserted and read after about three to five days, it shows where the colony is sitting and its condition.
The wax cappings that fall when feed cells are opened form strips: their number reveals how many comb spaces the colony occupies, their position shows where it has moved to. Light-colored wax scales mean the colony is drawing on its stores, dark wax cappings indicate hatching brood, condensation points to brood activity.
At the same time, the fallen varroa mites can be counted. Crumbs from mouse gnawing, mold, fecal spots, or a conspicuously large number of dead bees are warning signs and justify a closer look.