I think it's important to use standardized materials and methods to do
any type of varroa sampling.   Otherwise you'd have to calibrate results
for each new set up to be relevant.  That's a lot of careful work.  The 1/4
inch hardware cloth is pretty standard I think, as is the 300 bee sample.
Published thresholds use some version of that combination.
  The problem I see with both the Veto-Pharma and tea infuser is that the
holes are too small as is the ratio of holes to solid.
  I use (and make on a small commercial scale) a version of the double
shaker jar I got from Medhat Nasr years ago and still sold through the
Alberta Beekeepers Association.  The plastic food grade lids are usually
polypropylene and must be heat welded together.  There is no adhesive,
epoxy, or solvent weld for PP or HDPE.  The jars and lids are pretty
standard peanut butter or or mayo and so I can take a bunch of samples in
jars, leave them on top of the hives and go back and shake/count.
   Come to think of it, I've been seeing the little buggers in drone brood
between the boxes so I need to get out there and do some counts!
Cheers,
Kristina Williams
Boulder, CO

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