The parasitic mite, Varroa Destructor, significantly threatens honey bee hives. They feed on developing bees which weakens the population and spreads diseases amongst colonies. A common method beekeepers use to protect honey bees against parasitic mites is adding drone comb which forces the hive to raise mite-preferred male bees. This project investigates the effects of raising male honey bees on colony level health and behavior. Our research examines drone comb production over time using ImageJ software to assess honey bee hive development under various treatments. So far, drone comb area increased by about 2% during the first two weeks, followed by minimal change in the final two weeks. Image analysis is still in progress, however, these findings offer initial insights into drone comb trends and will support broader comparisons across all treatment groups.
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