1. Observation & Monitoring
Healthy IPM starts with consistent monitoring rather than reactive treatments.

• Monitoring FrequencySpring: every 2–3 weeks
• Summer: monthly
• Fall: monthly
• Winter: minimal disturbance

Varroa Monitoring Methods

• Alcohol wash
• Sugar roll
• Sticky board

Recommended monitoring 3–5 times per year.

Example threshold guideline:

2. Environmental Prevention
Regenerative beekeeping prioritizes landscape and colony resilience.

Habitat Diversity Encourages:

• Native flowering plants
• Continuous bloom cycles
• Pollen diversity
• Diverse nutrition strengthens bee immune systems.

Apiary Placement
Choose sites with:

• Good sun exposure
• Airflow
• Dry ground
• Minimal pesticide exposure

Avoid:

• Wet areas
• Heavy agricultural spraying zones

Colony Strength
Strong colonies resist pests better.
Maintain:

• Adequate food stores
• Young productive queens
• Proper hive spacing

3. Mechanical Controls
These methods reduce pests without chemicals.

Drone Brood Removal (Varroa)
Varroa prefer drone brood.
Technique:

• Allow drone comb
• Remove capped drone brood periodically

Screened Bottom Boards
Benefits:

• Varroa fall through screen
• Improved ventilation
• Reduced humidity

Small Hive Beetle Traps
Examples:

• Oil traps
• In-hive traps

Comb Management
Old comb accumulates:

• pesticides
• pathogens

Replace 20–25% of comb each year

4. Biological Controls
Encouraging natural resilience.

Hygienic Bee Stock
Use bees bred for:

• Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH)
• Grooming behavior
• Disease resistance

Natural Colony Dynamics
Allow:

• Brood breaks
• Swarming tendencies
• Natural queen replacement

These processes interrupt pest cycles.

5. Targeted Treatment (Last Resort)
If monitoring shows pests above threshold, targeted treatments may be used.
Common options:

Principles for regenerative use:

• Use lowest effective intervention
• Avoid routine prophylactic treatment
• Record all applications

Pest-Specific IPM Strategies

Varroa Mites
Most critical pest.

Regenerative strategy:

1. Monitor frequently
2. Encourage brood breaks
3. Use resistant genetics
4. Maintain strong nutrition
5. Treat only if thresholds exceeded

Small Hive Beetle
Risk increases in:

• weak colonies
• shaded apiaries
• moist soil

Controls:

• Keep colonies strong
• Reduce hive space
• Use traps or cloths
• Maintain sun exposure

Wax Moths
Typically invade weak colonies.
Prevention:

• Maintain strong colonies
• Store comb properly
• Freeze stored frames if needed

Ants
Solutions:

• Hive stands
• Barriers or oil moats
• Vegetation management

Seasonal IPM Calendar
Spring Focus:

• Colony buildup
• Varroa monitoring
• Comb renewal

Summer Focus:

• Pest pressure monitoring
• Hive ventilation
• Beetle control

Fall Focus:

• Varroa management
• Winter bee health
• Adequate honey stores

Winter Focus:

• Minimal disturbance
• Oxalic acid treatment if appropriate

Record Keeping
Members should document:

• Monitoring dates
• Varroa counts
• Pest sightings
• Treatments applied
• Colony outcomes

This helps identify long-term trends.

Regenerative IPM Reflection

• Did the colony recover naturally?
• Are pests increasing or decreasing?
• What landscape factors may influence hive health?

Guiding Philosophy
A regenerative beekeeper asks: “How can I improve the conditions that allow bees to thrive naturally?”

...rather than: “What treatment should I apply?”