Our Approach to Hive Health
At Amber Drop Honey, we believe healthy bees are the foundation of great honey. That’s why we focus on strong hive management, regular monitoring, and low-intervention beekeeping practices wherever possible.
One of the biggest challenges facing honey bees today is the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), a tiny external parasite that feeds on bees and can weaken entire colonies if left unmanaged.
How We Monitor Varroa
Rather than relying on routine chemical treatments, we use a combination of observation, hive management, and monitoring tools to keep a close eye on colony health.
One of the tools we use is the Varroa Controller.
What is the Varroa Controller?
The Varroa Controller is a hive management system designed to help reduce Varroa mite populations by targeting the mites’ preferred breeding environment.
Varroa mites reproduce inside capped brood cells, particularly drone brood. The Varroa Controller works by encouraging bees to build drone comb in a removable frame. Because Varroa mites are naturally attracted to drone brood, many of the mites enter these cells to reproduce.
Once the drone brood is capped, the frame can be removed, effectively removing a significant number of reproducing mites from the hive before they emerge and spread further.
Why We Use It
The Varroa Controller allows us to:
- Monitor mite activity within the hive.
- Reduce mite populations through physical management techniques.
- Support healthy colonies with minimal intervention.
- Reduce our reliance on synthetic chemical treatments.
While no single method completely eliminates Varroa mites, we believe that combining good beekeeping practices with regular monitoring gives our bees the best opportunity to thrive.
A Balanced Approach
Every hive is different, and responsible beekeeping means adapting to changing conditions. We continually assess the health of our colonies and use the most appropriate management techniques available to protect our bees.
Our goal is simple: healthy bees, healthy hives, and high-quality honey produced with care and respect for the natural environment.