Laboratory bioassay was used to determine the pathogenicity of nine isolates of fungi of the genera Metarhizium, Beauveria and Clonostachys to the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor. All nine isolates were pathogenic to V. destructor with Metarhizuim anisopliae UAMH 9198, Clonostachys rosea UAMH 9161 and Beauveria bassiana GHA being the most pathogenic within their respective species. Metarhizium anisopliae UAMH 9198 was more lethal to V. destructor than B. bassiana GHA and C. rosea UAMH 9161 with LC50 values of 1.6 x 10(5), 9.6 x 10(6) and 5.4 x 10(6) conidia/mL, respectively. Metarhizium anisopliae and B. bassiana significantly affected brood and adult honey bee survivorship and their immune responses. They were lethal to the bees with LC50s of 3.70 x 10(6) and 2.62 x 10()5 conidia/mL, respectively. The effect of temperature and thymol on conidia germination, production and colony growth of the fungal isolates was determined. Temperature significantly affected conidia germination, production and colony growth (P < 0.05) but thymol did not. Efficacy of the two most promising isolates (M. anisopliae UAMH 9198 and B. bassiana GHA) as potential bio-control agents against V. destructor in hives was evaluated. Fungal inocula were applied as dry formulation, with corn flour as carrier, using dispenser tray and dusting applications. Treatments were either applied alone or in combination with thymol to determine any synergistic effects. All treatments significantly increased mite mortality (P < 0.05), however, the mite control efficacy varied between fungal treatments and application methods. Combined treatments of fungi and thymol caused significantly higher mite mortality than single fungal treatments, which showed control levels of ≤61%. Significant differences in mite mortality were found between the two delivery methods with the differences depending on the fungal isolate. The results suggest that M. anisopliae UAMH 9198 would be a more effective bio-control agent for the management of V. destructor in honey bee colonies than the other isolates tested when dispensed continuously in hives using delivery methods such as a dispenser tray. However, future research is needed to improve delivery methods and investigate the effect of carriers used in the formulation on the efficacy of such entomopathogenic fungi. / Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF), University of Guelph

O objetivo desse estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para características produtivas e comportamentais em uma população de abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas por meio de inferência Bayesiana. Os dados foram submetidos a análises uni e bicaracterística utilizando o programa MTGSAM. Os modelos consideraram os efeitos (fixos) de local do apiário, mês-ano ou estação-ano e o número de caixilhos com abelhas aderentes como covariável linear. As estimativas de herdabilidade apresentaram magnitudes de moderada a alta para comportamento higiênico (0,81 ± 0,17), produção de própolis (0,83 ± 0,16), produção de mel (0,37 ± 0,22) e taxa de coleta de xarope (0,39 ± 0,22) e magnitude baixa para a percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas (0,12 ± 0,13). A rapidez de coleta de xarope apresentou correlação genética de 0,21 ± 0,51 com produção de mel, de 0,45 ± 0,33 com produção de própolis, e de 0,05 ± 0,43 com comportamento higiênico. As correlações genéticas entre produção de mel, produção de própolis e comportamento higiênico foram de 0,20 ± 0,43, de -0,11 ± 0,41 e de 0,23 ± 0,31, respectivamente. As correlações genéticas foram negativas entre percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas e as características produção de mel (-0,63 ± 0,39), produção de própolis (-0,07 ± 0,50), comportamento higiênico (-0,19 ± 0,51) e rapidez de coleta de xarope (- 0,41 ± 0,51). As características produção de mel, produção de própolis e comportamento higiênico apresentam potencial para seleção genética. A menor percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas está relacionado a maior produção de mel e maior comportamento higiênico, mas não deve ser usado como único critério de seleção devido a baixa herdabilidade. A seleção de abelhas que coletam xarope mais rapidamente, prevendo maior produção de mel, promoverá pequeno ganho genético. Ao selecionar abelhas que produzem mais própolis haverá pequenos ganhos genéticos para comportamento higiênico ou maior produção de mel. / This study was carried out to estimate genetic parameters for productive and behavioural traits in Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera. The data were submitted uni and bicharacter analysis using the software MTGSAM. The fixed effects considered in the models were localization of the hive, month-year or season-year and number of frames covered with bees as covariate. The heritability estimates were moderate to high for hygienic behaviour (0,81 ± 0,17), propolis production (0,83 ± 0,16), honey production (0,37 ± 0,22) and syrup-collection rate (0,39 ± 0,22) and lower for percentage of mites on adult bees (0,12 ± 0,13). Syrup-collection rate showed genetic correlation values of 0,21 ± 0,51 with honey production, 0,45 ± 0,33 with propolis production and 0,05 ± 0,43 with hygienic behaviour. Genetic correlation between honey and propolis was 0,20 ± 0,43, between honey production and hygienic behaviour was -0,11 ± 0,41 and between propolis production and hygienic behaviour was 0,23 ± 0,31. Genetic correlations were negative between percentage of mites on adult bees and other traits honey production (-0,63 ± 0,39), propolis production (-0,07 ± 0,50), hygienic behaviour (-0,19 ± 0,51) and syrup-collection rate. Honey production, propolis production and hygienic behavior traits have potential for genetic selection. The lower percentage of mites on adult bees increase honey production or hygienic behaviour, but it is not recommended as the only criterion for selection, due to its low heritability. Selection for syrupcollection rate will promote small genetic gain for honey production. Propolis production is positively correlated to hygienic behaviour or honey production.

O objetivo desse estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para características produtivas e comportamentais em uma população de abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas por meio de inferência Bayesiana. Os dados foram submetidos a análises uni e bicaracterística utilizando o programa MTGSAM. Os modelos consideraram os efeitos (fixos) de local do apiário, mês-ano ou estação-ano e o número de caixilhos com abelhas aderentes como covariável linear. As estimativas de herdabilidade apresentaram magnitudes de moderada a alta para comportamento higiênico (0,81 ± 0,17), produção de própolis (0,83 ± 0,16), produção de mel (0,37 ± 0,22) e taxa de coleta de xarope (0,39 ± 0,22) e magnitude baixa para a percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas (0,12 ± 0,13). A rapidez de coleta de xarope apresentou correlação genética de 0,21 ± 0,51 com produção de mel, de 0,45 ± 0,33 com produção de própolis, e de 0,05 ± 0,43 com comportamento higiênico. As correlações genéticas entre produção de mel, produção de própolis e comportamento higiênico foram de 0,20 ± 0,43, de -0,11 ± 0,41 e de 0,23 ± 0,31, respectivamente. As correlações genéticas foram negativas entre percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas e as características produção de mel (-0,63 ± 0,39), produção de própolis (-0,07 ± 0,50), comportamento higiênico (-0,19 ± 0,51) e rapidez de coleta de xarope (- 0,41 ± 0,51). As características produção de mel, produção de própolis e comportamento higiênico apresentam potencial para seleção genética. A menor percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas está relacionado a maior produção de mel e maior comportamento higiênico, mas não deve ser usado como único critério de seleção devido a baixa herdabilidade. A seleção de abelhas que coletam xarope mais rapidamente, prevendo maior produção de mel, promoverá pequeno ganho genético. Ao selecionar abelhas que produzem mais própolis haverá pequenos ganhos genéticos para comportamento higiênico ou maior produção de mel. / This study was carried out to estimate genetic parameters for productive and behavioural traits in Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera. The data were submitted uni and bicharacter analysis using the software MTGSAM. The fixed effects considered in the models were localization of the hive, month-year or season-year and number of frames covered with bees as covariate. The heritability estimates were moderate to high for hygienic behaviour (0,81 ± 0,17), propolis production (0,83 ± 0,16), honey production (0,37 ± 0,22) and syrup-collection rate (0,39 ± 0,22) and lower for percentage of mites on adult bees (0,12 ± 0,13). Syrup-collection rate showed genetic correlation values of 0,21 ± 0,51 with honey production, 0,45 ± 0,33 with propolis production and 0,05 ± 0,43 with hygienic behaviour. Genetic correlation between honey and propolis was 0,20 ± 0,43, between honey production and hygienic behaviour was -0,11 ± 0,41 and between propolis production and hygienic behaviour was 0,23 ± 0,31. Genetic correlations were negative between percentage of mites on adult bees and other traits honey production (-0,63 ± 0,39), propolis production (-0,07 ± 0,50), hygienic behaviour (-0,19 ± 0,51) and syrup-collection rate. Honey production, propolis production and hygienic behavior traits have potential for genetic selection. The lower percentage of mites on adult bees increase honey production or hygienic behaviour, but it is not recommended as the only criterion for selection, due to its low heritability. Selection for syrupcollection rate will promote small genetic gain for honey production. Propolis production is positively correlated to hygienic behaviour or honey production.

O objetivo desse estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para características produtivas e comportamentais em uma população de abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas por meio de inferência Bayesiana. Os dados foram submetidos a análises uni e bicaracterística utilizando o programa MTGSAM. Os modelos consideraram os efeitos (fixos) de local do apiário, mês-ano ou estação-ano e o número de caixilhos com abelhas aderentes como covariável linear. As estimativas de herdabilidade apresentaram magnitudes de moderada a alta para comportamento higiênico (0,81 ± 0,17), produção de própolis (0,83 ± 0,16), produção de mel (0,37 ± 0,22) e taxa de coleta de xarope (0,39 ± 0,22) e magnitude baixa para a percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas (0,12 ± 0,13). A rapidez de coleta de xarope apresentou correlação genética de 0,21 ± 0,51 com produção de mel, de 0,45 ± 0,33 com produção de própolis, e de 0,05 ± 0,43 com comportamento higiênico. As correlações genéticas entre produção de mel, produção de própolis e comportamento higiênico foram de 0,20 ± 0,43, de -0,11 ± 0,41 e de 0,23 ± 0,31, respectivamente. As correlações genéticas foram negativas entre percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas e as características produção de mel (-0,63 ± 0,39), produção de própolis (-0,07 ± 0,50), comportamento higiênico (-0,19 ± 0,51) e rapidez de coleta de xarope (- 0,41 ± 0,51). As características produção de mel, produção de própolis e comportamento higiênico apresentam potencial para seleção genética. A menor percentagem de ácaros em abelhas adultas está relacionado a maior produção de mel e maior comportamento higiênico, mas não deve ser usado como único critério de seleção devido a baixa herdabilidade. A seleção de abelhas que coletam xarope mais rapidamente, prevendo maior produção de mel, promoverá pequeno ganho genético. Ao selecionar abelhas que produzem mais própolis haverá pequenos ganhos genéticos para comportamento higiênico ou maior produção de mel. / This study was carried out to estimate genetic parameters for productive and behavioural traits in Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera. The data were submitted uni and bicharacter analysis using the software MTGSAM. The fixed effects considered in the models were localization of the hive, month-year or season-year and number of frames covered with bees as covariate. The heritability estimates were moderate to high for hygienic behaviour (0,81 ± 0,17), propolis production (0,83 ± 0,16), honey production (0,37 ± 0,22) and syrup-collection rate (0,39 ± 0,22) and lower for percentage of mites on adult bees (0,12 ± 0,13). Syrup-collection rate showed genetic correlation values of 0,21 ± 0,51 with honey production, 0,45 ± 0,33 with propolis production and 0,05 ± 0,43 with hygienic behaviour. Genetic correlation between honey and propolis was 0,20 ± 0,43, between honey production and hygienic behaviour was -0,11 ± 0,41 and between propolis production and hygienic behaviour was 0,23 ± 0,31. Genetic correlations were negative between percentage of mites on adult bees and other traits honey production (-0,63 ± 0,39), propolis production (-0,07 ± 0,50), hygienic behaviour (-0,19 ± 0,51) and syrup-collection rate. Honey production, propolis production and hygienic behavior traits have potential for genetic selection. The lower percentage of mites on adult bees increase honey production or hygienic behaviour, but it is not recommended as the only criterion for selection, due to its low heritability. Selection for syrupcollection rate will promote small genetic gain for honey production. Propolis production is positively correlated to hygienic behaviour or honey production.

No description available.

European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is major pollinator for agriculture and vital for food production. Large number of viruses infecting A. mellifera have been discovered over the years, but it isn't yet known if they are pathogenic for their host. However, presence of non-viral pathogens like Varroa destructor can greatly increase their virulence and have fatal consequences for the colony. The aim of this study was to test and verify robustness of the method for virome detection on healthy honey bees from the Czech Republic. Last but not least we aimed to detect non-viral parasites and correlate their presence with detected viruses. We have successfully identified large number of viral sequences from different viral families. Viral composition was found to be influenced mainly by colony from where the honey bees were collected. That was mainly given by a large amount of bacteriophages in the samples. However, analysis of individual viruses, known to infect honey bee, indicated that viral prevalence and viral loads of specific viruses is quite different among individual honey bees from the same colony. Interestingly we were able to find highly diverse Lake Sinai viruses. We were able to observe correlations either between individual viruses or viral other non-viral pathogens. Further analysis is...

L’abeille mellifère (Apis mellifera) est une espèce clé dans son aire d’origine tant pour les services écosystémiques rendus que pour les productions apicoles. Toutefois, ses populations sont soumises à différents facteurs de stress biotiques responsables de mortalités importantes. Dans les îles du Sud- Ouest de l’Océan Indien (SOOI) la sous-espèce d’abeille endémique est A. m. unicolor. Toutefois, aucune étude n’avait été réalisée sur sa pathosphère et ce n’est que depuis 2010 où l’ectoparasite Varroa destructor a envahi certaines de ces îles, menaçant cette sous-espèce, que de premières études ont été conduites. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons réalisé un état des lieux général de la santé des cheptels d’abeilles grâce à des enquêtes épidémiologiques descriptives dans la majorité des îles : La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues, Madagascar et les Seychelles. Nous avons pu montrer des faciès épidémiologiques assez similaires entre les îles, marqués par une dominance de Nosema ceranae particulièrement dans les petites îles (80-100%) et la présence de 3 virus : BQCV (4-89%), CBPV (2-51% excepté à Rodrigues) et DWV (4-40% excepté à La Réunion). D’autres agents pathogènes n’ont été retrouvés que sur certains territoires comme Aethina tumida, Braula pretoriensis, Acarapis sp. ou Melissococcus plutonius. L’analyse de la diversité génétique réalisée sur les 3 virus a montré une proximité des souches virales au sein du SOOI. Les enquêtes réalisées dans un contexte sans varroa ont montré une bonne santé des colonies avec une absence de signes cliniques. Les mortalités constatées n’ont concernées que les territoires envahis par varroa : Madagascar, Maurice, La Réunion. Varroa semble donc être le principal responsable des mortalités aiguës de colonies dans la zone bien avant les autres agents pathogènes ou les causes environnementales. Son impact sur les populations d’abeilles et in fine sur les écosystèmes indigènes sera à évaluer dans les années futures. / The honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a key species in its native range for both ecosystem services offerred and for bee products. However, its populations are subject to various biotic stressors responsible for significant mortalities. In the South-West Indian Ocean region the endemic bee subspecies is A. m.unicolor. However, no studies had been carried out on its pathosphere and it is only since 2010 where the ectoparasite Varroa destructor invaded some of these islands, threatening this subspecies, that first studies were conducted. In this thesis work, we carried out a general inventory of the health of honeybee herds through descriptive epidemiological surveys in the majority of islands: Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Madagascar and Seychelles. We were able to show quite similar epidemiological facies between islands, characterized by a dominance of Nosema ceranae especially in small islands (80-100%) and the presence of 3 viruses: BQCV (4-89%), CBPV (2- 51% except in Rodrigues) and DWV (4-40% except in Reunion). Other pathogens have only been found in certain territories such as Aethinatumida, Braula pretoriensis, Acarapis sp. or Melissococcus plutonius. The analysis of the genetic diversity carried out on the 3 viruses showed a proximity of viral strains within the SOOI. Surveys conducted in a context without varroa showed good colony health with no clinical signs. The observed mortalities concerned only the territories invaded by varroa: Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion. Varroa therefore appears to be the main cause of acute colony mortality in the area long before other pathogens or environmental causes. Its impact on bee populations and ultimately on native ecosystems will be evaluated in future years.

Immunodeficient honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies suffer from broad range of parasites including eukaryotic protozoa. Despite this fact, the eukaryotic parasites are still poorly documented in the Czech Republic. The presence of eukaryotic parasites (Nosema ceranae, Nosema apis, Crithidia mellificae and Apicystis bombi) was observed in different apiaries in the Czech Republic. The samples were taken in 9 apiaries in 53 beehives during the 2014/2015 season. From each beehive, 10 adult of honey bees were taken from the peripheral comb in triplicate. DNA was isolated from every sample of honey bees. The parasites were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers. The treatment fall of parasitic mite Varroa destructor was obtained from beekeepers for season of 2014. Crithidia mellificae was detected by 5 types of specific primers (SEF, SER; SSU, SSU rRNA, Cyt b, Tryp cyt b) and positive amplicons were cloned and sequenced. The obtained sequences were compared with GeneBank and showed similarity from 98-100% to sequences of Lotmaria passim (Trypanosomatid). Crithidia mellificae was not detected. L. passim had prevalence of 79,2% and is reported in the Czech Republic for the first time. Primer Tryp-cyt b is recommended for the routine detection of L. passim. Nosema ceranae was...

Le parasite Varroa destructor provoque depuis plus de 30 ans la perte de nombreuses colonies à travers le monde. L’utilisation d’acaricides de synthèse s’est avérée inefficace au Canada et ailleurs dans le monde à la suite de la sélection de varroas résistants. Dans ce contexte, il est devenu impératif de trouver de nouveaux moyens pour contrôler cette peste apicole. Ce travail original de recherche a pour but de déterminer les paramètres fondamentaux d’une lutte intégrée contre la varroase fondée sur l’utilisation périodique de différents pesticides organiques (l’acide oxalique, l’acide formique et le thymol) associée à des seuils d’interventions. Les seuils d’intervention ont été déterminés à l’aide de régressions linéaires entre les taux de parasitisme par V. destructor et la formance zootechnique des colonies d’abeilles mellifères (production de miel et force des colonies). Un total de 154 colonies d’abeilles du Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault (CRSAD) ont été suivies de septembre 2005 à septembre 2006. Les seuils calculés et proposés à la suite de cette recherche sont de 2 varroas par jour (chute naturelle) au début mai, 10 varroas par jour à la fin juillet et de 9 varroas par jour au début septembre. L’efficacité des traitements organiques avec l’acide oxalique (AO), l’acide formique (AF) et le thymol a été vérifiée en mai (avant la première miellée) en juillet (entre deux miellées), en septembre (après la miellée et pendant le nourrissage des colonies) et en novembre (avant l’hivernage). L’acide oxalique a été appliqué en utilisant la méthode d’égouttement (4% d’AO p/v dans un sirop de sucrose 1 :1 p/v). L’acide formique a été appliquée sous forme de MiteAwayII™ (tampon commercial imbibé d’AF 65% v/v placé sur le dessus des cadres à couvain), Mitewipe (tampons Dri-Loc™ 10/15cm imbibés de 35 mL d’AF 65% v/v placés sur le dessus des cadres à couvain) ou Flash (AF 65% coulé directement sur le plateau inférieur d’une colonie, 2 mL par cadre avec abeilles). Le thymol a été appliqué sous forme d’Apiguard™ (gélose contenant 25% de thymol p/v placée sur le dessus des cadres à couvain). Les essais d’efficacité ont été réalisés de 2006 à 2008 sur un total de 170 colonies (98 appartenant au CRSAD et 72 appartenant au privé). Les résultats montrent que les traitements de printemps testés ont une faible efficacité pour le contrôle des varroas qui sont en pleine croissance durant cette période. Un traitement avec l’AF à la mi-été permet de réduire les taux de parasites sous le seuil en septembre mais il y a risque de contaminer la récolte de miel avec des résidus d’AF. Les traitements en septembre avec le MiteAwayII™ suivis par un traitement à l’acide oxalique en novembre (5 mL par égouttement entre chaque cadre avec abeilles, 4% d’AO p/v dans un sirop de sucrose 1 :1 p/v) sont les plus efficaces : ils réduisent les niveaux de varroase sous le seuil de 2 varroas par jour au printemps. Nos résultats montrent également que les traitements réalisés tôt en septembre sont plus efficaces et produisent des colonies plus fortes au printemps comparativement à un traitement réalisé un mois plus tard en octobre. En conclusion, ce travail de recherche démontre qu’il est possible de contenir le développement de la varroase dans les ruchers au Québec en utilisant une méthode de lutte intégrée basée sur une combinaison d’applications d’acaricides organiques associée à des seuils d’intervention. / For nearly 30 years, Varroa destructor has been responsible for the loss of many honey bee colonies around the world. The continued use of synthetic acaricides has resulted in their reduced efficacy against this pest in Canada and in other countries because of the selection of resistant mite populations. With this situation still present, it has become of utmost importance to develop efficient methods to control this apicultural pest. The major goal of this original work is to determine the fundamental parameters underlying the use of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy against the varroa mite. The IPM strategy developed in this research is based on the periodic use of organic pesticides (oxalic acid, formic acid and thymol) and treatment threshold. Treatment thresholds were determined from linear regressions between the varroa mite levels and the zootechnical performances (honey production and colony strength) of honey bee colonies. A total of 154 honey bee colonies from the livestock of the “Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault” (CRSAD) were monitored from September 2005 to September 2006. Based on our findings, we propose economic treatment thresholds for three periods in the year: early May, late July and early September that are respectively 2, 10 and 9 varroa mites per day. Efficacy of the various organic treatments: formic acid (FA), oxalic acid (OA) and thymol was evaluated in May (before the first honey flow), in July between two honey flows, in September (after the honey flow and before the fall feeding of colonies) and in November (before wintering). OA was applied using the trickling method (4% OA w/v in a sucrose syrup 1:1 w/v). FA was applied using MiteAwayII™ (pads imbedded with FA 65% v/v placed on top of brood frames), Mitewipe (Dri-Loc™ pads 10/15cm imbedded with 35 mL FA 65% v/v placed on top of brood frames), Flash (FA 65% poured directly on the bottom board of colonies, 2 mL per frame with bees). Thymol was applied using Apiguard™ (gel with 25% de thymol w/v placed on top of the brood frames). Efficacy trials were realised from 2006 to 2008 on a total of 170 colonies (98 from the CRSAD and 72 owned by a commercial beekeeper). Results show that treatments applied in spring give low efficacy on reducing varroa mite populations that are in full growth at this time because of large amounts of brood available for mite reproduction. Application of a FA treatment in mid-summer offers the opportunity to reduce mite populations at the 11 mites per day September threshold but FA summer application is accompanied by a risk of incorporating residues in the harvested honey. Application of MiteAwayII™ in September followed by an oxalic acid treatment in November (trickling method 4% OA w/v in a sucrose syrup 1 :1 w/v, 5 mL between frames with bees) gave the best efficacy results: varroa mite levels are reduced below the 2 mites per day spring threshold. Our results also show that an early September management strategy of colonies for winter preparation (varroa treatment and fall feeding) gives greater varroa control, higher colony winter survival and stronger colonies in spring when compared to a later treatment in October. In conclusion, this work shows that varroa mite control in honey bee colonies in Québec is possible by using an integrated pest management strategy based on the application of a combination of organic acaricides in association with treatment thresholds.

Le parasite Varroa destructor provoque depuis plus de 30 ans la perte de nombreuses colonies à travers le monde. L’utilisation d’acaricides de synthèse s’est avérée inefficace au Canada et ailleurs dans le monde à la suite de la sélection de varroas résistants. Dans ce contexte, il est devenu impératif de trouver de nouveaux moyens pour contrôler cette peste apicole. Ce travail original de recherche a pour but de déterminer les paramètres fondamentaux d’une lutte intégrée contre la varroase fondée sur l’utilisation périodique de différents pesticides organiques (l’acide oxalique, l’acide formique et le thymol) associée à des seuils d’interventions. Les seuils d’intervention ont été déterminés à l’aide de régressions linéaires entre les taux de parasitisme par V. destructor et la formance zootechnique des colonies d’abeilles mellifères (production de miel et force des colonies). Un total de 154 colonies d’abeilles du Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault (CRSAD) ont été suivies de septembre 2005 à septembre 2006. Les seuils calculés et proposés à la suite de cette recherche sont de 2 varroas par jour (chute naturelle) au début mai, 10 varroas par jour à la fin juillet et de 9 varroas par jour au début septembre. L’efficacité des traitements organiques avec l’acide oxalique (AO), l’acide formique (AF) et le thymol a été vérifiée en mai (avant la première miellée) en juillet (entre deux miellées), en septembre (après la miellée et pendant le nourrissage des colonies) et en novembre (avant l’hivernage). L’acide oxalique a été appliqué en utilisant la méthode d’égouttement (4% d’AO p/v dans un sirop de sucrose 1 :1 p/v). L’acide formique a été appliquée sous forme de MiteAwayII™ (tampon commercial imbibé d’AF 65% v/v placé sur le dessus des cadres à couvain), Mitewipe (tampons Dri-Loc™ 10/15cm imbibés de 35 mL d’AF 65% v/v placés sur le dessus des cadres à couvain) ou Flash (AF 65% coulé directement sur le plateau inférieur d’une colonie, 2 mL par cadre avec abeilles). Le thymol a été appliqué sous forme d’Apiguard™ (gélose contenant 25% de thymol p/v placée sur le dessus des cadres à couvain). Les essais d’efficacité ont été réalisés de 2006 à 2008 sur un total de 170 colonies (98 appartenant au CRSAD et 72 appartenant au privé). Les résultats montrent que les traitements de printemps testés ont une faible efficacité pour le contrôle des varroas qui sont en pleine croissance durant cette période. Un traitement avec l’AF à la mi-été permet de réduire les taux de parasites sous le seuil en septembre mais il y a risque de contaminer la récolte de miel avec des résidus d’AF. Les traitements en septembre avec le MiteAwayII™ suivis par un traitement à l’acide oxalique en novembre (5 mL par égouttement entre chaque cadre avec abeilles, 4% d’AO p/v dans un sirop de sucrose 1 :1 p/v) sont les plus efficaces : ils réduisent les niveaux de varroase sous le seuil de 2 varroas par jour au printemps. Nos résultats montrent également que les traitements réalisés tôt en septembre sont plus efficaces et produisent des colonies plus fortes au printemps comparativement à un traitement réalisé un mois plus tard en octobre. En conclusion, ce travail de recherche démontre qu’il est possible de contenir le développement de la varroase dans les ruchers au Québec en utilisant une méthode de lutte intégrée basée sur une combinaison d’applications d’acaricides organiques associée à des seuils d’intervention. / For nearly 30 years, Varroa destructor has been responsible for the loss of many honey bee colonies around the world. The continued use of synthetic acaricides has resulted in their reduced efficacy against this pest in Canada and in other countries because of the selection of resistant mite populations. With this situation still present, it has become of utmost importance to develop efficient methods to control this apicultural pest. The major goal of this original work is to determine the fundamental parameters underlying the use of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy against the varroa mite. The IPM strategy developed in this research is based on the periodic use of organic pesticides (oxalic acid, formic acid and thymol) and treatment threshold. Treatment thresholds were determined from linear regressions between the varroa mite levels and the zootechnical performances (honey production and colony strength) of honey bee colonies. A total of 154 honey bee colonies from the livestock of the “Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault” (CRSAD) were monitored from September 2005 to September 2006. Based on our findings, we propose economic treatment thresholds for three periods in the year: early May, late July and early September that are respectively 2, 10 and 9 varroa mites per day. Efficacy of the various organic treatments: formic acid (FA), oxalic acid (OA) and thymol was evaluated in May (before the first honey flow), in July between two honey flows, in September (after the honey flow and before the fall feeding of colonies) and in November (before wintering). OA was applied using the trickling method (4% OA w/v in a sucrose syrup 1:1 w/v). FA was applied using MiteAwayII™ (pads imbedded with FA 65% v/v placed on top of brood frames), Mitewipe (Dri-Loc™ pads 10/15cm imbedded with 35 mL FA 65% v/v placed on top of brood frames), Flash (FA 65% poured directly on the bottom board of colonies, 2 mL per frame with bees). Thymol was applied using Apiguard™ (gel with 25% de thymol w/v placed on top of the brood frames). Efficacy trials were realised from 2006 to 2008 on a total of 170 colonies (98 from the CRSAD and 72 owned by a commercial beekeeper). Results show that treatments applied in spring give low efficacy on reducing varroa mite populations that are in full growth at this time because of large amounts of brood available for mite reproduction. Application of a FA treatment in mid-summer offers the opportunity to reduce mite populations at the 11 mites per day September threshold but FA summer application is accompanied by a risk of incorporating residues in the harvested honey. Application of MiteAwayII™ in September followed by an oxalic acid treatment in November (trickling method 4% OA w/v in a sucrose syrup 1 :1 w/v, 5 mL between frames with bees) gave the best efficacy results: varroa mite levels are reduced below the 2 mites per day spring threshold. Our results also show that an early September management strategy of colonies for winter preparation (varroa treatment and fall feeding) gives greater varroa control, higher colony winter survival and stronger colonies in spring when compared to a later treatment in October. In conclusion, this work shows that varroa mite control in honey bee colonies in Québec is possible by using an integrated pest management strategy based on the application of a combination of organic acaricides in association with treatment thresholds.