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How do You monitor for varroa mites?

I don't monitor
2 (12.5%)
Visually - I look for them on bees
3 (18.8%)
Sticky board or oil trap under SBB
7 (43.8%)
Sugar shake (correct term?)
0 (0%)
Sampling drone brood
2 (12.5%)
Other method - please explain
1 (6.3%)
I don't have bees yet
0 (0%)
I have bees, but I'm so new I don't have an answer
1 (6.3%)

Total Members Voted: 0

Voting closed: October 13, 2009, 07:24:37 pm

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Author Topic: How do You monitor for varroa?  (Read 2989 times)

Offline David LaFerney

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How do You monitor for varroa?
« on: September 29, 2009, 07:24:37 pm »
I know that I've heard some other people here say that they only treat for mites when they have a problem, and I'm wondering how you know you have a problem.  I've never seen a mite on a bee this summer, but after building oil traps for SHB I saw  some varroa floating in the oil within only a couple of hours of changing the bottom boards for the traps.   This is not good, but I should have known. 

Anyway, how do YOU monitor for varroa mites?
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"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Samuel Clemens

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Offline AR Beekeeper

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Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2009, 11:15:34 am »
I do a 24 hr natural mite fall count.  I do this for 3 days and then average to get the 24 hr average drop.
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Offline jdpro5010

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Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2009, 03:03:24 pm »
Alcohol Wash
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Offline Michael Bush

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Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2009, 09:44:52 pm »
I used to do sugar shakes, natural drop and open up some drone brood.  Now I just keep my eyes open and once in a while a drone gets opened up that actually has one, or I see one on the back of a bee.  I couldn't find any natural drop the last few times I looked and got none on the sugar shakes.
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Offline David LaFerney

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Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2009, 10:33:51 pm »
Quote from: jdpro5010 on October 01, 2009, 03:03:24 pm
Alcohol Wash

I assume that means you put some bees in a container with some alcohol.  Why do you think this method is better for you to use than a non lethal one like a sugar shake?
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"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Samuel Clemens

Putting the "ape" in apiary since 2009.

Offline jdpro5010

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Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2009, 10:50:36 am »
iT IS FASTER EASIER AND CLEANER THAN ETHER IN MY OPINION
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