What Are The Functions Of Sticky Boards And Plastic Screens? Precision Mite Monitoring For Hives

Sticky Boards and plastic screens function as a synergistic monitoring system designed to capture and quantify parasitic mites within a honeybee colony.

The Sticky Board uses an adhesive surface (often petroleum jelly or specialized sheets) placed at the bottom of the hive to trap mites that fall from the bee cluster. The plastic screen is positioned above this board to create a physical barrier, preventing worker bees from removing the fallen mites or becoming entrapped in the adhesive themselves.

Core Takeaway This system transforms a beehive’s natural debris into actionable data. By preventing bees from "cleaning up" fallen mites, beekeepers can obtain an accurate count of mite population density and evaluate the effectiveness of chemical treatments with minimal disturbance to the colony.

The Mechanics of Detection

The Role of the Sticky Board

The foundation of this monitoring method is the sticky board itself. Typically made from felt paper coated in petroleum jelly or pre-made adhesive sheets, it serves as a passive trap.

It captures parasites, such as Varroa or Tropilaelaps, that fall from the bees' bodies or brood cells. This fall occurs either naturally due to mite mortality and grooming, or as a direct result of miticide treatments.

The Critical Function of the Plastic Screen

Without a protective barrier, the data collected by a sticky board would be unreliable. Honeybees are naturally hygienic and will actively remove debris—including dead mites—from the hive floor.

The plastic screen (or mesh cover) acts as a filtration layer. It has openings large enough to allow mites to fall through onto the sticky surface below, yet small enough to prevent worker bees from reaching the debris to clean it up.

Furthermore, this screen protects the colony by preventing bees from accidentally landing on the adhesive and getting stuck.

Why This Combination Matters for Data Accuracy

Validating Treatment Efficacy

The primary utility of this setup is to measure the impact of control interventions. By counting the mite fall over a specific window—typically 24 to 72 hours—you can determine if a treatment is working.

A high drop count immediately following medication indicates the treatment is effectively dislodging parasites from their hosts.

Ensuring Low-Disturbance Monitoring

Unlike invasive methods that require opening brood cells with forceps, sticky boards offer a "low disturbance" approach.

Because the board acts as a passive collector at the bottom of the hive, it allows for intensity analysis without disrupting the colony's temperature or stressing the queen and worker bees.

Understanding the Trade-offs

Passive vs. Active Sampling

While sticky boards are excellent for tracking trends and treatment drops, they rely entirely on gravity and mite movement. They measure the rate of fall, which is a proxy for total infestation, rather than counting the total population directly.

The Necessity of Time

This method is not instantaneous. To get statistically significant data, the board must remain in place for at least 24 hours.

If the board is left too long without a screen, debris accumulation can obscure mites; if removed too quickly, the sample size may be too small to be representative.

Making the Right Choice for Your Goal

To get the most out of sticky boards and screens, align your usage with your specific objective:

If your primary focus is evaluating treatment success: Deploy the board immediately after applying miticides and monitor the drop count over a 24 to 72-hour period to verify the chemical is releasing effectively.
If your primary focus is routine surveillance: Use the screen and board combination to monitor "natural mite fall" to detect early spikes in infestation levels without disrupting colony workflow.

The combination of a sticky surface and a protective screen provides the objective, quantifiable evidence required to move from guessing about infestation levels to managing them with precision.

Summary Table:

Component	Primary Function	Key Benefit
Sticky Board	Captures falling mites using an adhesive surface.	Provides quantifiable data on mite population density.
Plastic Screen	Acts as a physical barrier between bees and adhesive.	Prevents bees from cleaning debris or getting stuck.
Petroleum Jelly	Applied to the board as a trapping agent.	Ensures mites remain immobilized for accurate counting.
24-72h Window	Recommended duration for data collection.	Captures statistically significant samples of mite fall.

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References

Rogan Tokach, Geoffrey R. Williams. Managing the parasitic honey bee mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae through combined cultural and chemical control methods. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76185-4

This article is also based on technical information from HonestBee Knowledge Base .