Sticky Board is a vital part of varroa surveillance.
When used correctly it is one of the most sensitive testing methods available. Sticky boards work by catching varroa mites as they drop. You then go back periodically and inspect the sticky board for varroa mites.If the sticky board is placed directly on the bottom board a screen will be needed to keep the bees off the adhesive. When used in conjunction with a screened bottom board (like the Hive Doctor Bottom Boards), the sticky board can be used alone, simply cut these to size and place them in the pest checking tray.
Sticky boards are a useful surveillance tool for detecting the natural mite drop of a hive infected with Varroa. Mites will often dislodge from bees and fall onto the hive base, usually because of the hygienic grooming behavior of their host. Sticky boards are placed on top of the bottom board to trap mites as they fall off bees. They can be removed after 48 hours to determine the presence of Varroa within a hive. Sticky boards are a non-invasive detection method that minimizes hive disturbance and does not kill any bees. However, as only a small proportion of mites will naturally fall from bees (5 – 30%) sticky boards should be paired with a synthetic treatment for 48 hours. This combination is a very effective method for detecting Varroa in a hive
MESH BOTTOM BOARD IS NOT INCLUDED
