Just to fill out my previous comments, I have not treated with any 
natural or other chemical for at least 6 years tho I do feed sugar syrup 
and the pollen sub mix previously mentioned.  1997 to about 2004 I tried 
some essential oils, formic, and mineral oil painted on hive walls.  The 
most hives I've lost in one fall/winter is about 30 percent, mostly 
early on.  Poorly mated queens due to cold or wet spring weather cause 
some failures, (if they haven't failed in the august droughts). Also I 
winter over a number of nucs some of which end up too small to survive 
late freezes.  Varroa, tracheal, and nosema are factors I'm sure in some 
losses. Some year when my health and work schedule permit I will try to 
get some testing done to see what the loading is.  Most of my bees are 
very aggressive allo-groomers, with lots of work around the wing bases 
(another observation hive discovery), which Jamie Ellis believed (last 
time I asked) was helping control tracheal mites that enter that spiracle.

Carolyn in the Western Piedmont of SC, USA

On 10/25/2010 8:30 AM, Bill T wrote:

> ...Also please note any treatment that might be incorporated. I have found that
> some who "do not treat" are only talking about commercial treatments, like
> Apistan and the like. Some use "natural" treatments like formic and oxalic
> acid or "organic oils" like thyme oil, spearmint etc. Also. brood frame
> removal, which it is a treatment since, without it, Varroa would be an
> issue...

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