Sticky bottom boards serve as the primary instrument for quantitative data collection in Varroa mite management. They act as physical capture tools positioned at the base of the hive, utilizing an adhesive coating—often Vaseline or specialized glues—to trap mites that fall from the bee cluster. By permanently securing these parasites, the boards prevent them from re-climbing into the colony, ensuring that every fallen mite contributes to an accurate assessment of infestation levels and treatment efficacy.
The sticky bottom board transforms a biological event—a falling mite—into reliable statistical data. While other tools may separate mites from bees, the sticky board is the only device that secures the sample against environmental loss or bee cleaning behavior to guarantee precise counts.
The Mechanics of Accurate Data Collection
Physical Capture and Retention
The fundamental mechanism of a sticky board is adhesion. Whether the mite falls due to natural mortality or chemical treatment, the sticky surface traps it immediately upon contact.
Preventing Re-infestation
Without a sticky surface, a fallen mite can often survive and crawl back up into the hive structure. The sticky board acts as a terminal barrier, physically preventing the parasite from returning to the bee colony to feed or reproduce.
Neutralizing Environmental Interference
Hive environments are dynamic, characterized by ventilation currents and bee-induced vibrations. The adhesive layer ensures that dislodged mites are not blown away by air currents or lost to vibration, ensuring high precision during the counting process.
Countering Colony Hygiene
Bees exhibit cleaning behaviors that result in the removal of debris, including dead mites, from the hive. The sticky board secures the mites out of reach or firmly in place, preventing the colony from removing the "evidence" before it can be counted by the researcher.
The Role in Assessment and Control Strategy
Establishing Baseline Infestation
Sticky boards allow for the calculation of the Daily Mite Drop (DI). By monitoring the natural drop count over a specific period, managers can determine the severity of the infestation without chemically stimulating the colony or physically disturbing the bees.
Validating Treatment Efficacy
To determine if a miticide or biotechnological method is working, you must measure the "knockdown" rate. Sticky boards capture the influx of mites dying from medication, allowing for a direct comparison between pre-treatment and post-treatment mite loads.
Enabling Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM relies on decision-making based on thresholds rather than calendar-based treatments. Sticky boards provide the non-invasive monitoring data required to decide exactly when an intervention is necessary, preventing the overuse of chemicals.
Understanding the Trade-offs
The Requirement for Integration
Sticky boards are rarely standalone solutions for control; they are monitoring tools. For maximum effectiveness, they are often paired with screened bottom boards, which separate the bees from the sticky surface while allowing mites to fall through the mesh.
Consumable Nature
The primary reference notes that sticky boards are essential consumables. Because the adhesive surface eventually becomes covered in debris (pollen, wax, dust), they must be regularly replaced or cleaned to maintain their capture efficiency and reading accuracy.
Operational Dependency
The accuracy of the data is dependent on the quality of the adhesive application (e.g., Vaseline). If the coating is uneven or dries out, mites may escape or be blown away, leading to false negatives regarding infestation severity.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
To utilize sticky bottom boards effectively in your biotechnological assessment, align their use with your specific objective:
- If your primary focus is Routine Monitoring: Use sticky boards to calculate the average natural daily mite drop to determine if infestation thresholds have been crossed.
- If your primary focus is Efficacy Testing: Deploy fresh sticky boards immediately before applying a treatment to capture the "shock" drop and quantify the precise kill rate of the method.
By effectively securing the sample against biological and environmental loss, sticky bottom boards provide the undeniable data required to move from guesswork to precision management.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Function in Varroa Management | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive Coating | Traps falling mites (natural drop or knockdown) | Prevents re-infestation and loss of data |
| Physical Barrier | Acts as a terminal floor for parasites | Neutralizes bee cleaning behavior interference |
| Quantitative Tool | Enables Daily Mite Drop (DI) calculation | Provides non-invasive monitoring for IPM thresholds |
| Integration Ready | Pairs with screened bottom boards | Ensures accuracy without chemical stimulation |
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References
- Alemu Tsegaye, Yusran Ibrahim. Evaluation of the Efficiency of Different Biotechnical Techniques for the Control of Varroa Mite in Eastern Amhara. DOI: 10.11648/j.fem.20241003.12
This article is also based on technical information from HonestBee Knowledge Base .
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