Screen bottom boards and sticky boards function as a passive trap that leverages the natural grooming behavior of honeybees to detect Varroa mites. When bees bite or groom mites off their bodies, the parasites fall through the mesh of the screen bottom board and adhere to the sticky board inserted below, preventing them from crawling back up into the colony.
Core Takeaway This system separates falling debris from the active colony, allowing beekeepers to quantify "natural mite drop" or verify treatment success without opening the hive. However, this method serves primarily as an indicator of infestation presence and seasonal trends, rather than a precise calculation of the total mite population on the bees.
The Mechanics of Detection
The Role of the Screen
The screen bottom board replaces the solid floor of a standard hive. It features a specific physical mesh size that supports the colony while allowing smaller debris to pass through.
This mesh acts as a physical filter. It ensures that any mite dislodged during grooming falls out of the hive immediately, rather than remaining on the floor where it could re-attach to a host bee.
The Role of the Sticky Board
The sticky board is an insert covered in an adhesive substance, placed directly beneath the screen. Its primary function is retention and preservation.
Once a mite hits the board, the adhesive prevents it from crawling away or being removed by hygienic bees. This allows the beekeeper to count the fallen mites accurately at a later time.
The Standard Sampling Window
To obtain a usable reading, beekeepers typically leave the sticky board in place for approximately 24 hours.
Leaving the board for shorter periods may not capture enough data, while leaving it too long can result in excessive debris that makes identifying mites difficult.
Interpreting the Data
Monitoring Natural Mite Drop
When used without chemical treatments, this method measures "natural mite drop." This creates a baseline for understanding seasonal population trends within the colony.
By tracking how many mites fall naturally per day, beekeepers can gauge if the infestation is stable or rising dangerously as the season progresses.
Verifying Treatment Efficacy
These tools are also essential for evaluating active interventions. When a treatment (acaricide) is applied, the sticky board captures the mites killed by the chemical.
This allows for a precise evaluation of treatment efficacy. If a high number of mites are found on the board after treatment, it confirms the intervention is successfully reducing the pest load.
Understanding the Trade-offs
Proof of Presence vs. Population Count
It is critical to understand that a sticky board count is a proxy measurement, not a census.
As noted in the primary documentation, this method serves as proof of infestation but does not provide an accurate total population count. It measures how many mites fell, not how many remain attached to the bees or hidden in brood cells.
Variable Grooming Rates
The number of mites on the board is influenced by the colony's specific behavior.
Some bee populations have stronger "grooming" genetics and will bite off more mites than others. Therefore, a high drop count could indicate a heavy infestation, or it could simply indicate a colony that is very hygienic and aggressive toward mites.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Before relying on this method, clarify your objective for the apiary:
- If your primary focus is non-invasive monitoring: Use screen bottom boards to track seasonal trends and detect the early presence of mites without disrupting the colony structure.
- If your primary focus is validating a treatment: Insert a sticky board immediately after applying a mite treatment to confirm that the chemicals are effectively killing the parasites.
Used correctly, these tools provide the essential data needed to protect apiary assets and maintain production continuity.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Screen Bottom Board | Sticky Board |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Physical filter/Passive trap | Retention and preservation |
| Mechanism | Allows mites to fall through mesh | Adheres mites to prevent re-entry |
| Best Used For | Continuous non-invasive monitoring | 24-hour sampling & treatment checks |
| Key Insight Provided | Proof of infestation presence | Natural drop rate & treatment efficacy |
| Limitation | Does not count mites on bees | Debris buildup over long periods |
Maximize Your Colony Health with HONESTBEE
Maintaining a productive apiary requires precision tools and reliable data. At HONESTBEE, we specialize in supporting commercial apiaries and distributors with a comprehensive wholesale selection designed for professional scale operations.
Our portfolio includes everything from high-durability screen bottom boards to advanced beekeeping machinery like hive-making and honey-filling systems. Whether you are scaling up your colony management or seeking essential industry consumables and honey-themed cultural merchandise, we provide the hardware and expertise to drive your success.
Ready to elevate your beekeeping business? Contact us today to explore our wholesale solutions!
Related Products
- Varroa Easy Check Mite Tester Kit Counter Alcohol Wash Jar
- HONESTBEE Wooden Bee Escape Board with Triangle Mesh Design for Beekeeping
- Oxalic Acid Vaporizer 12V for Bee Varroa Mite Treatment
- HONESTBEE Multi Exit Plastic Bee Escape Board for Efficient Honey Harvesting
- Adjustable Formic and Acetic Acid Dispenser for Bee Mite Treatment
People Also Ask
- What are some popular methods to measure Varroa mite load in beehives? Compare Accuracy & Bee Safety
- What is the Varroa EasyCheck and its purpose? Streamline Your Hive Health Monitoring
- What are the steps to perform an alcohol wash test after collecting the bees? A Guide to Accurate Varroa Mite Counting
- What is the Varroa EasyCheck used for? Accurate Mite Monitoring for Healthy Hives
- How often should varroa mite checks be performed using the alcohol wash method? Optimize Your Apiary's Health
