I did a sugar roll on my two colonies on May 28 and saw zero mites. That has been bothering me a little so, before placing the honey supers, I decided to try my first alcohol wash today. Thank you, Steve Gomes, for the TVBA test kit! Both colonies have full double deeps so I feel urgent about getting the supers on.

I got 2% mite count; six mites from 300 bees in my “package”, and five from the TVBA nuc. Pretty much everything I have read says the lower threshold for treating is 3%. So, no oxalic vapor until August. These results make me question the efficacy of sugar roll tests.

Supers went on with fingers crossed!

It is moments like this that I really miss not having an experienced mentor suited up with me.

Perhaps a little late for this response but it was a month later that you did the wash versus the roll. A lot can happen in a month. If you do a future wash, perhaps then do a roll. Tell us how the results differ. Would be interetsting.

And, you could title the post I Love Wash N Roll ....no..?