Which method can beekeepers use to monitor varroa mite levels?

Monitoring varroa mite levels is crucial for the health of honey bee colonies, as these mites can cause significant harm if not managed properly. One effective method for assessing mite populations is through the use of sticky boards or alcohol washes.

Sticky boards are placed at the entrance of the hive and capture falling mites, allowing beekeepers to quantify the level of infestation by counting the captured mites. This method provides a clear and quantifiable way to assess the mite population over time.

Alcohol washes involve shaking bees in a container with alcohol, which will kill the bees and separate the varroa mites from them. After this process, the mites can be counted accurately, providing a reliable estimate of infestation levels. This method is favored because it gives a precise count of the mites present on a given number of bees, facilitating accurate monitoring and decision-making regarding mite management strategies.

While regular hive inspections and visual observations can provide some information about overall hive health and might suggest problems, they do not offer the concrete data needed to evaluate mite levels accurately. Similarly, using magnifying glasses to inspect bees could help spot some mites, but it would not allow for a systematic or quantifiable evaluation of the infestation across the colony, making sticky boards and alcohol washes far superior for