Verification Testing is a Must
You Must Know What You Have!
Test the Same Hives in Late Summer and Spring.
Without Testing, You are Playing Russian Roulette!

INTRODUCTION

• Testing of natural drop on sticky boards is a must! Do not rely on your neighbour, or government official to tell you what the situation is or what to do. You must know what mite infestation levels you have in your hives to treat successfully and not waste money on unsuccessful treatments.
• Only tests before each treatment and at the same time of the year (In moderate climate August and April) will tell you the true situation in the hive. These levels directly effect the winter and summer brood stock.
• The results of testing at other times, by other methods, randomly and after the varroa mite treatment, are irrelevant.
• Tests after the treatment; in many instances, the natural drop after August Honey bee mite treatment was higher than before the treatment. Why is this? It is because mites exposed to the acid continue to die in great numbers long after the treatment has ended. They become sterile and in 80% will not reproduce their offspring and many adults die in cells. Also because summer mites are just dying off in late September and October? The only true measure of August treatment success is how many mites are in the same hive the following spring.
• Testing in the spring (April) and in late August is a must when controlling mites with acid and MiteGone^®. In commercial operations, a random sampling is required to get a reasonable indication of infestation levels. The tests should be completed before the application of organic bee mite Treatment to the entire operation.

EVEN WITH A ZERO INFESTATION LEVEL, VARROA MITE TREATMENTS MUST BE USED IN THE SPRING TO PREVENT RE- INFESTATION, ELIMINATE THE TRACHEAL MITE AND TO KEEP MITE LEVELS BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF 8 – 10 MITES NATURAL DROP. BEFORE THE SECOND TREATMENT IN IN AUGUST, PREVENTING DAMAGE TO WINTER BEES AND RE-INFESTATION BY ROBBING ENSURES SUCCESSFULL WINTERING.

CONCLUSION: After 15 years of using formic acid and testing, we found and established current rules and methods of testing described in documents listed below::

• Verification Testing for the Infestation of Varroa and Tracheal Mites
  Introduction, Conclusion, How Many to Test, When & How.

• Methods of Testing for Varroa Mite Infestation, Resistance & Efficacy
  Methods of Testing for Varroa Mite Infestation, Resistance, and Efficacy
  A complete summary of what the test means, how you can find your resistance or the efficacy of the treatment you are doing right now, what infestation level you have, and the treatment you need.

• Drop or Sticky Board Methods and Equipment
  Instruction, How to Use, Drop Boards - Commercial or Homemade, Other Equipment, and Rules of Counting.

• Reusable Board and Screens
  Reusable Board and Screens
  Sketch and Instruction, Material Specification, and How to Make Test Boards, Screens, and Lifting Tools for 24 Test Boards

• Verification Testing BLANK Chart
  Fill and use for your own tests. Send to me for advice.

Verification Testing Charts and Evaluations:
What the Numbers will Tell You
These charts provided the material and information allowing us to pass our recommendation on to you. The tests and results for August 2006 to April 2010 show that VAROA can be virtually eliminated in commercial operations of 500 hives. In 20 tested hives only ONE mite on one board was found in a 72 hour = 3 day drop, before April treatment in 2010.

• Test Evaluation August 2006 to April 2010 May 10

• Test Evaluation April 2006 B

• Test Evaluation September 2005 C

• Test Evaluation April 2005 D (2 pages)

• Test Evaluation September 2004 Q

• Test Evaluation April 2004 I5 (3 pages)

• Test Evaluation September 2003 I5 (3 pages)