Datasheet Guide and Resources
This guide explains how to accurately complete your Sentinel Datasheet. Please write clearly using an ink pen or fine-tip permanent marker. Before opening your hives, record the date, sampler (you), time, yard name, total number of colonies in the yard, each colony’s tag ID, and its configuration.
The topics are available as clickable links to their related guides: Frames of Bees, Queen Status, Brood Pattern, Temperament, Brood Observations, and Diseases.
The topics are available as clickable links to their related guides: Frames of Bees, Queen Status, Brood Pattern, Temperament, Brood Observations, and Diseases.
- Colony Configuration and Strength
- Colony Tag: Record the unique Sentinel ID for each colony. If the plastic Sentinel ID tags are not yet attached to a participating colony, affix them now.
- Configuration: Record the number of Deep and Medium boxes on the colony. Supers are any size box used for honey production; you may indicate size if you wish.
- Status: Circle whether the colony is alive or dead, and indicate if it has been split or combined.
- Weight: On a scale from 1 (light) to 5 (heavy), rate how heavy the colony is.
- Frames of Bees: Estimate the total number of frames covered with bees, following the Sentinel protocol.
- Queen Status: Record the queen status using the following codes: Queen Seen (QS), Queen Right (QR), Queen Not Seen (QNS), Virgin Queen (VQ), Drone Layer (DL), Queenless (QL), or Laying Worker (LW).
- Brood Pattern: On a scale from 1 (very spotty) to 5 (very solid), rate the brood pattern.
- Temperament: On a scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (good), rate colony temperament. (1= very defensive, 3= average temperament, 5= very gentle).
- Disease and Pest Observations
- Brood Observations: Record if you see signs of the following among the brood; chewed cells, perforated cappings (Pref. Cap), bald brood, chalkbrood, melted brood.
- Diseases: Mark if you observe signs of: Deformed wing virus (DWV), European or American foulbrood (EFB/AFB), Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), Parasitic mite syndrome (PMS), or Shiny bees.
- Pests: Mark only if you observe these pests in the colony: Varroa, Small Hive Beetle larvae or adults (SHBL/A), or Wax Moth larvae or adults (WML/A).
- Sample Types, Treatments and Feedings
- Sentinel Samples: Circle which lab diagnostics this colony will receive; Varroa, Vairimorpha (formerly Nosema), or Viral.
- Treatment: If the colony is currently being treated for mites, pests, or disease, record the product and dose. If you treat between Sentinel sampling visits, complete an additional datasheet with those treatment details and submit it with your next sample.
- Feed: If the colony is being fed during this visit, record the feed type (for example, 1:1, 2:1, pollen patty, etc.) and the quantity provided (for example, 2 gal, 1lb, etc.).
- Yard Totals: After all inspections are complete, record the total number of living and dead colonies, and the total numbers of colonies that were split or combined.
| How to Fill Out Your Sentinel Datasheet.pdf |