Hello Thomas,
"chewed wings" can be from a few difefrent things. Yes mites are one. But chilled brood, malnutrition, are a couple others. I always wonder about DFW this early in the year. Normally, you do not have that many mites this early in the year.
The brood break will help but keep this in mind. If you do have a mite problem, the first series of brood the new queen raises will suck all the waiting mites into the cells. The brood breaks that benefit the most are from those hives that are truly hygienic. The mites will buildup somewhat as they have nowhere to go, and they will overlaod the first thousand cells as they are being capped. Then the hygienic bees will go in and clean them out.
So do not be surprised if you see a few more DWV bees in the new brood. It will however level off and should return to a manageable rate.
"chewed wings" can be from a few difefrent things. Yes mites are one. But chilled brood, malnutrition, are a couple others. I always wonder about DFW this early in the year. Normally, you do not have that many mites this early in the year.
The brood break will help but keep this in mind. If you do have a mite problem, the first series of brood the new queen raises will suck all the waiting mites into the cells. The brood breaks that benefit the most are from those hives that are truly hygienic. The mites will buildup somewhat as they have nowhere to go, and they will overlaod the first thousand cells as they are being capped. Then the hygienic bees will go in and clean them out.
So do not be surprised if you see a few more DWV bees in the new brood. It will however level off and should return to a manageable rate.