How do screened sticky bottom boards help beekeepers monitor varroa mites?

Screened sticky bottom boards are a tool used by beekeepers as part of an integrated pest management strategy to monitor and control varroa mite populations.

These boards are placed at the bottom of a hive to capture mites that fall off the bees as they groom one another. By using a screen, the board prevents the bees from reaching the mites while allowing the parasites to fall onto a sticky surface where they become trapped. This allows beekeepers to effectively sample and count the mite population, helping them determine if infestation levels have reached a threshold that requires further intervention to protect the colony from the damage associated with colony collapse disorder.12