"Thanks for the interest! Actually, our method does provide estimation of level of brood infestation. Analysing the brood infestation by examining the cells by cell is very time-consuming and is associated with a laboratory setting. Instead, our method allows for the rapid opening of around 200 cells and provokes Tropiaelaps to the surface. That behaviour, typical for Tropilaelaps but not for Varroa, enables us to identify the presence of mites and estimate the infestation level. We proved this statistically by comparing with cell - by- cell check. For more details, please check our preprint paper "A scientific note on "Rapid brood decapping" - a method for assessment of honey bee (Apis mellifera) brood infestation with Tropilaelaps mercedesae" DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.09.616962"
What's the point of this test if you will always see them under the brood and doesn't give you an idea of your infestation ?
"Thanks for the interest! Actually, our method does provide estimation of level of brood infestation. Analysing the brood infestation by examining the cells by cell is very time-consuming and is associated with a laboratory setting. Instead, our method allows for the rapid opening of around 200 cells and provokes Tropiaelaps to the surface. That behaviour, typical for Tropilaelaps but not for Varroa, enables us to identify the presence of mites and estimate the infestation level. We proved this statistically by comparing with cell - by- cell check. For more details, please check our preprint paper "A scientific note on "Rapid brood decapping" - a method for assessment of honey bee (Apis mellifera) brood infestation with Tropilaelaps mercedesae" DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.09.616962"