Sticky Boards and a Mite Count - Can Someone Help Me

[donm]

I've never used sticky boards and this may be a stupid question, but how do you distinguish a mite from all of the other stuff that collects on the board.  I did a 24 hour test and even with a magnifying glass it is hard to visually separate the mite from the hive stuff.  Any advice would be appreciated?

[irerob]

In the sunlight the legs of the mites here have a reddish tint to them while the bodies are more brown. I look for the two toned objects. 

[donm]

Thanks, that is helpful.  Have you ever known them to be a golden color?  I think part of my problem as I stop to ponder this, is we got some rain today and some of the water got on the boards.  I think it may have been enough to mess up the overall view of stuff on the boards.

[Kathyp]

it's another one of those things that  comes with practice.  once you get the hang of spotting them, they jump out at you. 

[Michael Bush]

Get a magnifying glass and after some practice you won't need it.  You'll recognize the color and shape.  Study the pictures on the web.  Try a google search on images.

[donm]

Big help everyone.  Thank you.

[Cindi]

Donm.  When you look at the bugs (mites) you will see something very common amongst them.  The bodies of the mites will be roundish, kind of flat and look rather shiney, they are like a reddish brown colour.  Getting a magnifying glass and looking at them, as Michael said, is a good idea.  Once you get the hang of seeing what these little creeps look like, you will never forget.  Remember, that shineness that you see on their bodies is a dead give away.  Looks like a blob of small, about the size of a pinhead, reddy brown shiney looking ich.  That is how I would describe it.  If I am not mistaken, any that are not of that dark brownish colour are males, they are insignificant, the females are the dark coloured ones and are the ones to count.  Do some reading for sure, the internet is a magnificent tool.  Good luck.  Have that most wonderful and awesome day, health.  Cindi

Try going to this site I have linked, there is a great picture of an super ugileeeeee varroa mite

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/images/bee-photos/female%2520varroa%2520mite.JPG&imgrefurl=http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/pi/ppc/varroa-bee-mite-folder/frequently-asked-questions-about-varroa-mites&h=1704&w=2272&sz=1169&tbnid=8Sgnri_hTgW2YM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvarroa%2Bmite%2Bpicture&hl=en&usg=__ICT6ig5YfThfk8K5lPBRoNdCxoI=&ei=a7bISvGVNYvQtAOxxoGiBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image