>
> >changing environmental conditions will affect drops


I also wondered about this.  During my experiment we went through a heat
wave (104F, RH 13%) as well as a rain storm (lower temp, high humidity).  I
suspected that more mites might fall during heat and low humidity.  But hen
I graphed everything out, I couldn't see any relationship.

Ants can be a huge problem, and I suspect may have affected one hive's
counts, although I couldn't see any ants carrying mites when I checked
(have seen before).

> Location may have an influence and explain why Pierre, Randy, and I are
all seeing different things.  The same applies to hive configuration, flow
conditions, hive equipment and beekeeper management practices.

All the above are caveats for sticky boards.  The only one that I can think
of for washes is Allen's observation that they can be a hassle if there are
multiple honey supers on.  I've already experimented and found that the
infestation rate of bees bearding on the entrance does not correlate with
the rate of bees from the broodnest.

>
> >I also found that when counting, I needed light as bright as full
> sunlight, reading glasses AND a magnifier to see all the mites.


Ditto here as I get older.  I now use a jeweler's headband  magnifier.  And
ditto for the mites on edge.  I had a helper count one of the boards to
compare counts, and he counted about 25% fewer mites than I had.

>
> > The alternative that I prefer is to do a 3-minute (total time for
> me) alcohol wash.
>
> >but even with practice, I would say 3 minutes is in ideal conditions and
> does not take all the background prep, etc. into consideration.
>

Yes, that is for doubles in which you do not have to lift off supers (which
takes me a few seconds).  There is no background prep for me, as I carry a
mite wash kit with me ready to go at all times.   Three minutes is how long
it takes me to move to the next hive, open, smoke, pull a frame, check for
queen, shake, check again for queen, measure bees, wash bees for 60 shakes,
allow to settle and count (no need to ever count above 6 mites), close the
hive,  filter the alcohol, top off the jar, and ready to move to next hive.


> >I see these to techniques as complementary, not as alternatives, with
> each having its place.


Agreed, which is why I was doing both at the same time.  However, if the
intent is to determine if the mite infestation rate has reached a treatment
threshold, I'm leery of natural drop.


-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm