Belief doesn't rely on any facts, however. Science and research does. Dr.
Delaplane's work on economic thresholds and IPM treatments (summaries at:
http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/Research/archives.htm), presented last year (I
have the handouts from his talk somewhere, but perhaps not this exact paper)
looked at both treatment levels and methods of detecting the levels.

Effects of delayed acaricide treatment in honey bee colonies parasitized by
Varroa jacobsoni and a late-season treatment threshold for the south-eastern
USA. Delaplane, K.S. & W.M. Hood. 1997. Journal of Apicultural Research
36(3/4): 125-132

"Our data suggest that late-season acaricide treatments in first-year
colonies in the south-eastern USA piedmont are justified at colony mite
populations of 3172 ? 324, 300-bee ether roll mite levels of 15 ? 1.4, and
overnight adhesive bottom board insert mite levels of 117 ? 15 in colonies
with 24 808 ? 2245 bees and 1825 ? 327 cm2 sealed brood; these conditions
occurred in mid-August.... Bottom board inserts were more reliable
predictors of colony mite populations compared to the ether roll method."

yes, colony strength does influence mite drop. But once mite drop reaches a
certain total number of mites, colony damage or collapse is around the
corner.  And well under the numbers some are reporting on the IBnewlist
(with 3800 mite drop in 2 days and more later on ... well over the level at
which economic damage has been done).

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Borst

I think the sticky board is the unreliable one.