Sticky papers serve as a fundamental, non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing Varroa mite populations in honeybee colonies. Placed on the bottom board of a hive, these adhesive sheets capture mites that fall naturally or are removed via bee grooming, allowing beekeepers and researchers to quantify infestation levels without disrupting the colony.
Core Takeaway Sticky papers provide an indirect method to assess colony health by immobilizing falling mites for accurate enumeration. This data is essential for calculating daily mite drop rates, evaluating the grooming efficiency of specific bee genotypes, and determining the timing or effectiveness of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) treatments.
How Sticky Papers Function
The Capture Mechanism
Sticky papers act as a trap for indirect assessment. Mites that dislodge from bees due to natural movement, gravity, or active grooming behavior fall onto the paper.
The adhesive surface immobilizes the mites immediately. This prevents them from crawling back up into the colony or being blown away by wind, ensuring the count remains accurate.
Enhancing Accuracy with Screened Boards
To function correctly, sticky papers are often placed beneath a screened bottom board.
The mesh floor allows mites to fall through while keeping the bees separated from the adhesive. This setup ensures the sample consists strictly of fallen parasites and prevents bees from getting stuck on the monitoring device.
Primary Applications in Management and Research
Calculating Natural Drop Rates
The most common use of sticky papers is to determine the "natural drop" of mites. By leaving the board in place for a set period (typically 24 to 72 hours), managers can calculate an average daily mite drop.
This metric acts as a longitudinal baseline. It allows beekeepers to track population dynamics over time and decide when an infestation has reached a critical threshold requiring intervention.
Screening for Mite Tolerance
As highlighted in the primary reference, sticky papers are critical for research and breeding programs.
They provide the foundational data needed to evaluate grooming efficiency—the ability of a colony to physically remove mites. By analyzing the debris on the papers, researchers can screen for honeybee genotypes that exhibit higher mite tolerance or hygienic behavior.
Verifying Treatment Efficacy
Sticky papers are frequently used in tandem with active treatments, such as miticide strips or powders.
When a treatment is applied, the paper captures the resulting "mite kill." This provides a quantitative basis for evaluating how well a chemical treatment or "knockdown" product worked.
Ensuring Data Integrity
Visual Contrast for Accuracy
Effective monitoring requires precise counting. White monitoring papers are used to provide high visual contrast.
The deep-red color of Varroa destructor stands out clearly against the white background. This minimizes human error during the counting phase, whether done in the field or a laboratory.
Standardized Transport
For research applications, data integrity must extend beyond the apiary.
After collection, sticky papers are often sealed in transparent vinyl bags. This protects the sample from environmental interference during transport, ensuring the "objectivity and authenticity" of the data during microscopic analysis.
Understanding the Limitations
Indirect vs. Direct Measures
It is important to recognize that sticky papers measure mite drop, not the total mite population on the bees.
While drop counts are highly indicative of infestation levels, they are a proxy metric. For a direct count of mites per 100 bees (infestation percentage), other methods like the "VID test" (washing bees) are required.
Variable Factors
The number of mites falling can be influenced by factors other than population size, such as the colony's activity level or brood status.
Therefore, relying on a single day's count can be misleading. Averaging counts over three days is standard practice to smooth out these daily fluctuations.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
- If your primary focus is Routine Monitoring: Use sticky papers beneath a screened bottom board for 3 days to calculate an average daily drop without opening the hive.
- If your primary focus is Genetic Selection: Analyze the papers specifically for chewed or damaged mites to identify colonies with superior hygienic grooming traits.
- If your primary focus is Treatment Auditing: Insert a fresh sticky paper immediately before applying a miticide to quantify the chemical's impact on the mite population.
By systematically capturing the fallen population, sticky papers transform an invisible threat into visible, actionable data.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Function & Purpose | Monitoring Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Drop Rate | Baseline population assessment | 24 - 72 hours |
| Grooming Screening | Identifies mite-tolerant bee genotypes | Ongoing / Periodic |
| Treatment Audit | Measures 'knockdown' efficacy of miticides | Post-treatment |
| Screened Boards | Separates bees from adhesive for safety | Continuous |
| White Background | High visual contrast for accurate counting | Instant Analysis |
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References
- Nuria Morfín, Ernesto Guzmán‐Novoa. A direct assay to assess self-grooming behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). DOI: 10.1007/s13592-020-00769-y
This article is also based on technical information from HonestBee Knowledge Base .
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