Red Velvet mite An arthropod which spends the major part of the year underground It emerges with the first rains of the monsoon Velneshwar, Guhagar, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India

Beekeeper checking drone larvae for mite infestation using an uncapping fork. No mites are apparent here. There would be a brown spot on the larvae if a mite were present.

Beekeeper checking a drone frame (green) for larvae with mite infestation. (using an uncapping fork). No mites are apparent here. there would be a brown spot on the larvae if a mite were present.

Beekeeper examining comb from the brood chamber of hive. The frame has capped brood and eggs. This short frame has drone brood on the bottom, which the beekeeper can remove if it becomes mite infested.

Queen excluder used between supers ( single boxes ) to isolate queen bee in lower portion of hive from honey bearing supers which are to be harvested. Paper towel which has been soaked in mineral oil, is used to help the bees combat mites.