Comparing Sugar Shake to Alcohol Wash: Is Alcohol Wash the Gold Standard?

Routine and scientific surveillance for Varroa destructor in colonies is now part of most beekeepers’ tool kits (Lee et al., 2010). Anecdotal evidence suggests that while the alcohol wash method is regarded as the gold standard, most beekeepers use the sugar shake technique due to its ease and also because, for hobby beekeepers, tested bees can be returned to the colony. The authors reviewed available literature comparing surveillance methods and found that the available evidence comparing techniques was sparse and contradictory. A summary of the available literature is needed. It is both and