This is a big question.
On one end of the spectrum, some people treat for just about everything, whether they have a problem or not.
Others rely on small cell/natural cell for hive health, although controlled studies cast doubt on whether that really works or is really a live and let die approach with a distraction.
Others don't treat anything and follow a live and let die approach without regard to cell size. That works best if you are raising your own queens and breeding from survivor stock. This is a tough thing to do starting out. If you have 2 hives, its no fun to have both of them crash. I think this is the best long term solution for varroa issues and lots of others.
A middle ground, which is probably the best for beginners, is to:
1. Obtain queens that have genetic resistance to pests;
2. Monitor for pests to keep an eye on what's going on;
3. Try non-chemical controls first, such as sugar dusting and drone comb removal for varroa and traps for beetles. I really think if you can figure out a way to keep varroa at bay, you have licked most of the problems. There is also some evidence that parasitic nematodes do a number on SHB.
4. If that fails, consider using a more soft chemical only as needed (such as formic acid or thymol for mites).
5. Rotate new comb into hives to keep bad things from building up on comb.
I do think that treating for Nosema on a routine basis is a reasonable step, since the treatments, all in all, are not terribly harsh and have a short life and the difficulty diagnosing Nosema before it is a real issue.
On the other extreme, I don't know that treating for traceal mites is necessary, given the natural resistance that seems to have developed. This is a case where good genes should lick the problem.
This is an area where everybody disagrees, and these are just my suggestions.
On one end of the spectrum, some people treat for just about everything, whether they have a problem or not.
Others rely on small cell/natural cell for hive health, although controlled studies cast doubt on whether that really works or is really a live and let die approach with a distraction.
Others don't treat anything and follow a live and let die approach without regard to cell size. That works best if you are raising your own queens and breeding from survivor stock. This is a tough thing to do starting out. If you have 2 hives, its no fun to have both of them crash. I think this is the best long term solution for varroa issues and lots of others.
A middle ground, which is probably the best for beginners, is to:
1. Obtain queens that have genetic resistance to pests;
2. Monitor for pests to keep an eye on what's going on;
3. Try non-chemical controls first, such as sugar dusting and drone comb removal for varroa and traps for beetles. I really think if you can figure out a way to keep varroa at bay, you have licked most of the problems. There is also some evidence that parasitic nematodes do a number on SHB.
4. If that fails, consider using a more soft chemical only as needed (such as formic acid or thymol for mites).
5. Rotate new comb into hives to keep bad things from building up on comb.
I do think that treating for Nosema on a routine basis is a reasonable step, since the treatments, all in all, are not terribly harsh and have a short life and the difficulty diagnosing Nosema before it is a real issue.
On the other extreme, I don't know that treating for traceal mites is necessary, given the natural resistance that seems to have developed. This is a case where good genes should lick the problem.
This is an area where everybody disagrees, and these are just my suggestions.
