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VARROA MITE MONITORING SURVEY by Véto-pharma
1.
How many hives do you manage?
2.
In which states are your apiaries located?
3.
Do you plan to, or have you already, monitored for varroa this year?
YES
NO
4.
If NO, can you please tell us why?
It takes too much time
I don’t consider it useful
I don’t know what it is
I don’t know how to do it
Other (please specify)
5.
If YES, when do you conduct your varroa mite monitoring?
End of winter / In spring
Between two honey flows
End of summer / in autumn BEFORE varroa treatment
End of summer / in autumn AFTER varroa treatment
Early winter
6.
What are the main goals and advantages of your monitoring?
To learn the level of varroa infestation in my apiary
To evaluate the need for treatment in the spring or early summer
To plan treatment later in the summer
To evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment
To evaluate health of colonies after overwintering
To identify a re-infestation after treatment
To compare my level of infestation with other apiaries
7.
What methods do you practice?
Natural mite fall on sticky boards
Brood sampling (removing pupae from cells)
Powdered sugar roll
Alcohol wash
Other (please specify)
8.
If you perform an alcohol wash or powdered sugar roll, do you use:
Homemade tools, produced with equipment (jars, etc.) that were not destined to this use
Tools or kits designed and bought specifically for this use from a beekeeping supplier
Other (please specify)
9.
If you use a tool designed specifically for varroa monitoring, can you tell us what tool you use?
10.
How many colonies do you monitor?
All my colonies
One colony per apiary
Fewer than 20% of my colonies
Between 20 and 30% of my colonies
More than 30%
11.
If you notice a higher level of infestation than average, do you adopt special measures?
Yes, I adjust my treatment schedule, and treat earlier, or immediately, if monitoring dictates very high levels of infestation.
It depends on the number of colonies with high levels of infestation.
No, I will maintain the usual strategy and calendar I already planned.
12.
Are you satisfied with the screening methods you use?
Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Time required
Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Costs
Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Reliability
Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
13.
If you practice varroa mite monitoring, what challenges do you face? What makes it difficult for you?
14.
If you're not (fully or partially) convinced of the usefulness of varroa monitoring, what arguments might make you change your mind?
I am convinced of the value of monitoring, and practice monitoring
Data on the reliability of the method
Data about the positive impact of early detection on colony health.
Financial data: Estimate of the savings that could be realized thanks to early detection of infestation (to avoid heavy infestations).
Positive feedback from a beekeeper-colleague who practices effective varroa monitoring and would give me advice on achieving it.
Advice from my beekeeping association
Advice from my state apiarist, bee inspector, or extension specialist
Advice from my beekeeping supplier
Nothing, I'm really not ready to do so.
Other (please specify)
15.
Would you be interested in a new practical tool for varroa monitoring?
YES
NO
16.
Who are you?
First and Last name
Address
Address 2
City/Town
State/Province
ZIP/Postal Code
Country
Email Address
Phone Number
17.
Would you like to receive news and information from Véto-pharma, including information about varroa monitoring? (For example: newsletters)
YES
NO
