Varroa or not varroa? It might be a mite and it might not.

It's about the time of year that beginning beekeepers are watching for varroa on their mite count (slideout) boards of their screened bottom boards but aren't always sure what to look for. So here's a varroa mite right next to a standard size matchstick with 3 more mites in the picture. The one close to the match is shiny because you are looking at its back; the others may be belly-up, but the distinctive thing about them all is the "butter clam" shape. A varroa mite is not oval, or round but has that bulge to one side, sort of like a butter clam. Happy Hunting!