The genetic patterns of Middle Eastern A. mellifera subspecies have been understudied, hindering a comprehensive understanding of honey bee evolutionary history. Here, we studied the genetic integrity of five Middle Eastern subspecies across a broad geographical range: Turkey (A. m. anatoliaca, N=97; A. m. caucasia, N=75; A. m. syriaca, N=18), Jordan and Lebanon (A. m. syriaca, N=238 and N=29), Iran (A. m. meda...
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) inhabit a vast geographical range, spanning diverse natural and agricultural ecosystems. They are exposed to different levels and types of natural (such as plant allelochemicals) and synthetic (such as pesticides) xenobiotics within this range. Several genes have been implicated in the resistance of insects to pesticides, including the P450 monooxygenases superfamily and ATP-binding ...
The population structure of North African A. mellifera subspecies has been overlooked. Here, WG generated from drones were analyzed to assess population structure and the conservation status of three A-lineage subspecies: A. m. lamarckii (Egypt, 68 samples), A. m. intermissa (Algeria, 69 samples), and A. m. sahariensis (Algeria, 68 samples; Morocco, 26 samples). Population structure was assessed by SNMF and PCA...
The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is one of the major honey bee threats and it is associated to population worldwide decline. Genetic analyses using the mtDNA of V. destructor are fundamental for establishing the taxonomy and distribution of the mites. Consequently, low-quality DNA can lead to inaccurate or inconsistent data, making genetic interpretation more challenging. In this study, we compared the ...
Glacial refugia harbor populations with complex diversity patterns. In honey bees, the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas served as two of the most important glacial refugia in Europe. Here, we analyzed whole genomes generated from drones to infer population structure, genetic diversity, and the molecular basis of the local adaptation for the two native subspecies of these Peninsulas: A. m. iberiensis (N=86; M-line...
Honey is highly susceptible to adulteration. Currently, the assessment of its geographical origin remains one of the most difficult tasks, which is typically performed by melyssopalynology. Recently, the attention has shifted towards indirect approaches such as the entomological origin based on geographical distribution patterns of honey bee subspecies. Although queens’ trade has impacted the natural subspecies...
Worldwide commercial beekeeping poses a threat to the native origin of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), with beekeepers favouring subspecies of Eastern European C-lineage ancestry, due to their docile behaviour and high honey production traits. In many parts of western and northern Europe, queens of Western European M-lineage ancestry have been massively replaced by queens of C-lineage ancestry, and this has led ...
Varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite of honey bees (Apis mellifera), is a significant threat to apiculture by causing varroosis and transmitting dangerous viruses such as the deformed wings virus. This mite can be controlled by the use of synthetic or organic acaricides. Currently, in Portugal, two classes of synthetic compounds are used: pyrethroids (fluvalinate and flumethrin), and formamidines (amitraz)....
Infestations of Varroa destructor are closely associated with colony collapse in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Currently, three classes of acaricidal compounds are utilized to combat these infestations: pyrethroids (fluvalinate and flumethrin), organophosphates (coumaphos) and formamidines (amitraz). The first cases of V. destructor resistance to pyrethroids were reported in Italy, followed by numerous instan...
Europe is home to ten Apis mellifera subspecies, which belong to three mitochondrial lineages: the Western European (M), Eastern European (C), and African (A). However, the long-standing human-mediated movement of queens, primarily of C-lineage ancestry, has threatened the genetic integrity of many of these native subspecies through introgression and replacement. This has led to the establishment of conservatio...