Thank you all again for participating in our Annual Loss and Management Survey!

We are contacting you again with the hopes that you will join us in a National effort to monitor for Varroa mites. The Bee Informed Partnership is proud to be a supporter of the first annual Mite-A-Thon that will take place Saturday, September 9 to Saturday, September 16, 2017 and we invite you to participate!

The Mite-A-Thon is a national effort to collect mite infestation data and to visualize varroa infestations in honey bee colonies across North America within a one week window. All beekeepers will be asked to participate, creating a rich distribution of sampling sites in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Their varroa monitoring data will be uploaded to www.mitecheck.com. You will be able to see Varroa levels in your region on this dynamic site! Click on it frequently to see the heat maps and view infestation levels during this critical beekeeping month.

OBJECTIVE: 1) Raise awareness about honey bee colony varroa infestations in North America through effective monitoring methods. 2) Management strategies will be made available for discussion within bee organizations utilizing Mite-A-Thon partner developed information and outreach materials.

PARTICIPANTS: All beekeepers are welcome to participate – we need bee associations to help lead this effort!

1. Encourage your members to participate in September, through meetings, newsletters, emails, social media etc. - http://www.pollinator.org/miteathon

2. Teach new beekeepers how to monitor for mites in August. http://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa/

3. Help your members prepare their monitoring materials.

4. Support your members in making sure they are able to monitor mites effectively and report their data.

DATA COLLECTION: Participants will monitor the level of mites (number of mites per 100 bees) using a standardized protocol utilizing two common methods of assessment (powdered sugar roll or alcohol wash) and then enter data, including location, total number of hives, number of hives tested, local habitat, and the number of Varroa mites counted from each hive. The published information will not identify individual participants. 

COST: There is no cost. You can create your own test materials or kits can be purchased

online.