A sticky board system functions as a passive, mechanical trap placed at the very bottom of a beehive. It consists of a cardboard sheet coated in Vaseline, positioned underneath a mesh screen, designed to catch and hold Varroa mites that fall naturally from the colony. The sticky coating immobilizes the parasites, while the screen prevents bees from reaching the board to remove them, allowing for an accurate physical count.
By physically isolating fallen mites from the colony, this system provides standardized, quantitative data on mite populations. It allows apiarists to objectively assess the natural resistance of different bee colonies without the need for chemical interference.
The Mechanics of Capture
The Viscous Interface
The core of the system is a simple cardboard sheet coated with Vaseline. This creates a viscous, sticky surface that acts as an inescapable trap for small parasites. When a Varroa mite falls—either due to natural causes or the grooming behavior of the bees—it adheres to the Vaseline and cannot return to the bee cluster.
The Protective Barrier
A mesh screen is placed directly above the sticky board. This screen is critical because honeybees are naturally hygienic and will attempt to clean debris, including dead mites, from the hive floor. The mesh allows mites to fall through but prevents the bees from accessing the sticky board, ensuring the data sample remains undisturbed.
Evaluating Colony Resistance
Standardized Quantitative Data
The primary purpose of this setup is to generate comparable data points. Because the capture method is physical and passive, it provides a standardized metric known as the "natural mite drop." This allows researchers and beekeepers to compare mite loads across different hives under identical conditions.
Non-Chemical Assessment
This method allows for the assessment of mite resistance through non-chemical means. By monitoring the natural drop rate, you can identify colonies that maintain low mite populations without intervention. These colonies often exhibit superior hygienic traits or genetic resistance, making them ideal candidates for breeding programs.
Understanding the Trade-offs
Passive vs. Active Monitoring
This system relies on natural mite fall. While effective for establishing trends and resistance levels over time, it does not count the mites currently attached to bees or inside brood cells. It is an indicator of the population, not a census of the entire infestation.
Maintenance Requirements
The system requires physical management. The sticky boards must be removed and counted regularly to prevent hive debris (pollen, wax cappings) from covering the mites. If the board becomes too cluttered, the quantitative accuracy of the count diminishes.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
This system is a diagnostic tool, not a treatment. Use the data derived from the sticky board to inform your management decisions.
- If your primary focus is breeding for resistance: Select colonies that consistently show lower natural mite drops over time compared to the apiary average.
- If your primary focus is treatment timing: Use the board to monitor population spikes; a sharp increase in daily drops indicates a critical infestation requiring immediate intervention.
Reliable resistance monitoring depends on consistent, standardized data collection that separates natural debris from actionable biological evidence.
Summary Table:
| Component | Function | Role in Resistance Monitoring |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard Sheet | Structural base | Provides a stable surface for mite collection and easy removal. |
| Vaseline Coating | Viscous adhesive | Immobilizes falling mites to prevent re-infestation or loss of data. |
| Mesh Screen | Physical barrier | Prevents bees from removing debris, ensuring an undisturbed sample. |
| Natural Drop Rate | Quantitative metric | Identifies colonies with superior hygienic traits for breeding programs. |
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References
- William G. Meikle, Vincent Ricigliano. Continuous hive monitoring reveals colony growth and activity differences among mite-resistant and Italian honey bee stocks. DOI: 10.1007/s13592-025-01188-7
This article is also based on technical information from HonestBee Knowledge Base .
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