Sticky boards and screens function as a cohesive two-part filtration system located at the bottom of the beehive. The sticky board is coated with a persistent adhesive to trap falling debris, while a protective screen is positioned immediately above it. This screen is the critical component that physically separates the colony from the trap, allowing small Varroa destructor mites to fall through onto the glue while ensuring the larger honey bees cannot come into contact with the adhesive.
By decoupling the trapping mechanism from the living space of the colony, this hardware setup enables continuous, passive monitoring of natural mite fall without risking bee safety or disrupting hive activity.
The Mechanics of the Separation System
The Role of the Protective Screen
The screen acts as a selective physical barrier. It is typically made of fine metal or plastic and spans the entire bottom area of the hive body.
Its primary function is safety. The screen prevents bees from walking on the sticky board, which would otherwise trap or injure them.
However, the screen is not a solid wall. It utilizes a precisely calibrated mesh size designed to filter the hive's contents based on size.
Calibrating the Mesh
The mesh openings are engineered to be permeable to Varroa mites. When mites are dislodged from their hosts, they fall through these gaps effortlessly.
Simultaneously, the openings are too small for honey bees to pass through. This ensures the bees remain safely in the hive while the parasites are filtered out.
The Function of the Adhesive Board
Positioned directly beneath the screen, the sticky board serves as the collection surface.
Because the adhesive is persistent, it captures mites immediately upon contact. This prevents live mites from crawling away or being blown out of the hive by wind or ventilation currents.
This ensures that the "mite fall" count accurately reflects the number of parasites dropping from the colony over a specific period.
The Goal: Passive Biosecurity Monitoring
Measuring Natural Mite Fall
This combination of hardware allows for passive monitoring. You do not need to open the hive or disturb the bees to collect data.
Instead, the system captures "natural mite fall"—mites that die naturally, are groomed off by bees, or simply lose their grip.
Continuous Data Collection
Because the bees are protected from the adhesive, the board can remain in place for extended periods.
This allows beekeepers to monitor trends over time rather than relying on a single snapshot, providing a clearer picture of the infestation level.
Critical Considerations and Trade-offs
The Importance of Screen Integrity
The system relies entirely on the structural integrity of the screen. If the screen is damaged or the mesh size is incorrect, the system fails.
If the mesh is too large or has holes, bees will access the glue, leading to bee mortality.
If the mesh is too small, mites may get stuck on the screen rather than falling to the board, leading to false negative readings regarding the infestation severity.
Maintenance Requirements
While passive, this system is not "set and forget." Debris such as wax cappings and pollen will also fall through the screen.
If too much debris accumulates on the sticky board, it can cover the adhesive surface, allowing subsequent mites to walk off the board uncounted.
Best Practices for Implementation
To ensure your monitoring provides accurate data while keeping the colony safe, consider your primary objective:
- If your primary focus is Colony Safety: Ensure the screen is fully intact and securely fastened so no bees can bypass the edges to reach the adhesive.
- If your primary focus is Data Accuracy: Regularly clean or replace the sticky board to prevent hive debris from obscuring the mites or neutralizing the adhesive.
The screen-and-board combination remains the foundational tool for non-invasive Varroa monitoring, providing essential biosecurity data without compromising the colony's welfare.
Summary Table:
| Component | Primary Function | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Screen | Physical barrier; filters mites while protecting bees | Calibrated mesh size to prevent bee contact with adhesive |
| Sticky Board | Collection surface; traps falling debris and parasites | Persistent adhesive prevents mites from escaping or blowing away |
| Natural Mite Fall | Biosecurity data collection | Passive monitoring without disrupting hive activity or colony health |
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References
- Robert Owen, Jean‐Pierre Y. Scheerlinck. Varroa destructor detection in non-endemic areas. DOI: 10.1007/s13592-021-00873-7
This article is also based on technical information from HonestBee Knowledge Base .
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