On Sun, Oct 24, 2010 at 6:31 PM, randy oliver <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Enjoying hearing from beekeepers who aren't treating.
> Might I make a suggestion?  Since most any hive will survive a year without
> treatment, for our benefit, please state how many years, and how many hives
> you have.
>

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. In each case the beekeeper thinks they are not treating as they do
not pay for it and/or it is organic.

Another bit of information is mite count over time.

I would add that I have seen many apiaries where bees survived for two or
three years without treatment, but then died from Varroa. All depends on
when Varroa shows up.

A no treatment bee is just that - set and forget.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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