How to Best Test For Mites Monitoring is an important tool for keeping your bees healthy. There are 2 categories of tests passive measurements and direct sampling. Passive Monitoring The passive monitoring method counts the number of mites that fall out of the hive over a period of time. It is often called "sticky boarding" because mites dall down through a screened bottom board onto a tacky surface that holds the until they can be counted. This method is the least intrusive. The test runs for about 24-72 hours. Equipment Needed You will need a screened bottom board and a collection surface. Use any kind of cooking oil to coat your collection surface and spread with a paper towel. You might need a magnifying glass to see the mights once your testing is complete. Note: To get an accurate count, the open slot where the board is slid under the hive needs to be taped to prevent bees and ants from getting in. Direct Sampling Direct sampling measures the number of mites collected from a 300 bee sample. It is more precise. There are two ways to do this: the alcohol wash and the sugar roll. The alcohol wash takes less time but results in death of sampled bees. A sugar roll method returns the tested bees safely to colony, but requires a few extra minutes. How To Choose The Sample Bees The bees with the highest level of mites are the newly emerged bees. Choose a frame in the brood nest with a mix of open and capped brood. Check to make sure queen isn't on it. Shake the bees off into a plastic tub. Collecting the correct number of bees is critical. The test are done using 300 bees which is equivalent to half cup of bees. How To Do The Sugar Roll Test Place sampling jar on top of the hive. Scoop bees up with a half cup measuring cup and dump into jar. Screw on screen lid and add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar through the screen. Roll the jar briskly for 2 minutes Let jar sit for 2 minutes and place the frame of the brood back into hive. shake the jar over a plastic tub for 2 minutes to remove the powdered sugar which will carry mites along with them. Dump the sample bees back on tops of frames in their hive. Close the hive Use spritz of water to dissolve the sugar, then count the mites. How To Do The Alcohol Wash Fill the Varroa Easy Check test container with alcohol to reach the bottom of basket. Scoop bees up with half cup measuring cup dump enough to reach halfway mark on basket. close jar and shake immerse the bees with alcohol open the jar and add more alcohol to reach the mark of the container. Replace lid and swirl the container for 60 seconds Replace the brood frame and close up hive. Count the mites seen through the bottom of container. Discard the bees in basket and filter mites out. Dispose of fluid and mites. Finishing up the test Divide the number of mites from both alcohol and sugar test by 3 to get percentage of bees that are infested with mites. Compare this number to seasonal treatment thresholds and determine whether treatment is necessary.

Contact Us:

James Fogleman

919.542.3157

sales@silkhopebeez.com
How to Best Test For Mites Monitoring is an important tool for keeping your bees healthy. There are 2 categories of tests passive measurements and direct sampling. Passive Monitoring The passive monitoring method counts the number of mites that fall out of the hive over a period of time. It is often called "sticky boarding" because mites dall down through a screened bottom board onto a tacky surface that holds the until they can be counted. This method is the least intrusive. The test runs for about 24-72 hours. Equipment Needed You will need a screened bottom board and a collection surface. Use any kind of cooking oil to coat your collection surface and spread with a paper towel. You might need a magnifying glass to see the mights once your testing is complete. Note: To get an accurate count, the open slot where the board is slid under the hive needs to be taped to prevent bees and ants from getting in. Direct Sampling Direct sampling measures the number of mites collected from a 300 bee sample. It is more precise. There are two ways to do this: the alcohol wash and the sugar roll. The alcohol wash takes less time but results in death of sampled bees. A sugar roll method returns the tested bees safely to colony, but requires a few extra minutes. How To Choose The Sample Bees The bees with the highest level of mites are the newly emerged bees. Choose a frame in the brood nest with a mix of open and capped brood. Check to make sure queen isn't on it. Shake the bees off into a plastic tub. Collecting the correct number of bees is critical. The test are done using 300 bees which is equivalent to half cup of bees. How To Do The Sugar Roll Test Place sampling jar on top of the hive. Scoop bees up with a half cup measuring cup and dump into jar. Screw on screen lid and add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar through the screen. Roll the jar briskly for 2 minutes Let jar sit for 2 minutes and place the frame of the brood back into hive. shake the jar over a plastic tub for 2 minutes to remove the powdered sugar which will carry mites along with them. Dump the sample bees back on tops of frames in their hive. Close the hive Use spritz of water to dissolve the sugar, then count the mites. How To Do The Alcohol Wash Fill the Varroa Easy Check test container with alcohol to reach the bottom of basket. Scoop bees up with half cup measuring cup dump enough to reach halfway mark on basket. close jar and shake immerse the bees with alcohol open the jar and add more alcohol to reach the mark of the container. Replace lid and swirl the container for 60 seconds Replace the brood frame and close up hive. Count the mites seen through the bottom of container. Discard the bees in basket and filter mites out. Dispose of fluid and mites. Finishing up the test Divide the number of mites from both alcohol and sugar test by 3 to get percentage of bees that are infested with mites. Compare this number to seasonal treatment thresholds and determine whether treatment is necessary.
How to Best Test For Mites Monitoring is an important tool for keeping your bees healthy. There are 2 categories of tests passive measurements and direct sampling. Passive Monitoring The passive monitoring method counts the number of mites that fall out of the hive over a period of time. It is often called "sticky boarding" because mites dall down through a screened bottom board onto a tacky surface that holds the until they can be counted. This method is the least intrusive. The test runs for about 24-72 hours. Equipment Needed You will need a screened bottom board and a collection surface. Use any kind of cooking oil to coat your collection surface and spread with a paper towel. You might need a magnifying glass to see the mights once your testing is complete. Note: To get an accurate count, the open slot where the board is slid under the hive needs to be taped to prevent bees and ants from getting in. Direct Sampling Direct sampling measures the number of mites collected from a 300 bee sample. It is more precise. There are two ways to do this: the alcohol wash and the sugar roll. The alcohol wash takes less time but results in death of sampled bees. A sugar roll method returns the tested bees safely to colony, but requires a few extra minutes. How To Choose The Sample Bees The bees with the highest level of mites are the newly emerged bees. Choose a frame in the brood nest with a mix of open and capped brood. Check to make sure queen isn't on it. Shake the bees off into a plastic tub. Collecting the correct number of bees is critical. The test are done using 300 bees which is equivalent to half cup of bees. How To Do The Sugar Roll Test Place sampling jar on top of the hive. Scoop bees up with a half cup measuring cup and dump into jar. Screw on screen lid and add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar through the screen. Roll the jar briskly for 2 minutes Let jar sit for 2 minutes and place the frame of the brood back into hive. shake the jar over a plastic tub for 2 minutes to remove the powdered sugar which will carry mites along with them. Dump the sample bees back on tops of frames in their hive. Close the hive Use spritz of water to dissolve the sugar, then count the mites. How To Do The Alcohol Wash Fill the Varroa Easy Check test container with alcohol to reach the bottom of basket. Scoop bees up with half cup measuring cup dump enough to reach halfway mark on basket. close jar and shake immerse the bees with alcohol open the jar and add more alcohol to reach the mark of the container. Replace lid and swirl the container for 60 seconds Replace the brood frame and close up hive. Count the mites seen through the bottom of container. Discard the bees in basket and filter mites out. Dispose of fluid and mites. Finishing up the test Divide the number of mites from both alcohol and sugar test by 3 to get percentage of bees that are infested with mites. Compare this number to seasonal treatment thresholds and determine whether treatment is necessary.