Greetings,

After searching the archives in vain, perhaps looking with the wrong search words, I'm looking for an answer to following situation:

A "sticky" board under a screen bottom board will render a certain number of phoretic varroa mites.  This is my preferred method of monitoring mite loads as it is less invasive than the sugar or ether roll.  Stronger colonies naturally yield more mites than smaller colonies.

Can anyone tell me what percentage of the total mite population can be detected in a 24-hour natural mite drop?  Is there a formula to suggest how many total mites each fallen mite represents?  How many mites does it take to be considered the "economic threshhold" or is this purely relative to the size of the colony?

By the way, I have some strong, productive colonies dropping 136 mites in a 24 hour period, and a number of colonies dropping anywhere from zero to three (and all in the same bee yard).

Any thoughts from any of you?  It would be appreciated.

Grant
Jackson, MO


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