So, for hobbyist beekeepers with only a couple of hives, what is the conventional wisdom for treatment against mites?  Use of Api strips has been deprecated, right?  So what has replaced it?

I only have 2 hives, and I can't afford to purchase equipment for treatment.

Also, I'm fascinated by link on this thread to non-treatment and reduced honey production.  I have 2 strong overwintered hives that I did not treat last fall but that I do have routinely inspected by the state inspector, who tells me that I have no significant mite problem.  My populations were quite large, yet I got very little honey this year (23 lbs from both hives combined).  Perhaps other factors played a role, but we had a great year for flower blooms and so I'm guessing there was plenty of nectar.

Thanks for the help.

Glen in Natick MA
(42.27, -71.35)

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm