In the program guide for Apimondia there is a presentation "Management practice against small hive beetle as a source of microplastic
contamination in honey bee colonies" by Ethel M. Villalobos that I was hoping someone on the list had attended and would be willing to discuss.

I found the abstract here and have requested the article. 
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372270724_Management_practice_for_small_hive_beetle_as_a_source_of_microplastic_contamination_in_honey_and_honeybee_colonies

The author states "Honey from treated hives had a significantly greater number of blue MF than honey from the control hives (mean ± SD, treatment 11.83 ± 3.76, control near 2.25 ± 0.92 and control far 0.25 ± 0.5 MF/20 gr honey). Also, hives treated with the microfiber sheets had a significantly greater number of blue microfibers in the gut and cuticle of bees, than the control hives located in a different apiary. However, the control and treated bees located in the same apiary had a similar number of blue microfibers (mean ± SD, treatment 4.7 ± 2.28, control near 3 ± 1.63 and control far 0.5 ± 0.58 MF in 20 bees). Thus, the current study raises concerns of the use of microfibers sheets to trap the SBH as it results in the incorporation of microfibers into the ecosystem and the food chain."

Small hive beetles have been worse in some locations in Maryland this year, likely due an extremely mild winter. One of the first recommendations for control is swiffers, but if the microfiber sheet is adding microplastics to the bees and honey, this may be a poor decision. The study also demonstrates bee drift in an apiary.

Thanks - 
Debbie Hewitt in Maryland

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