Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two dwarf honeybee species, Apis florea and Apis andreniformis (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae), in Thailand

Abstract

The dwarf honeybees Apis florea and Apis andreniformis inhabit the bush and forests of continental Asia and north Africa and some islands of Sundaland and the Philippines. We analysed, for the first time, the complete mitochondrial genomes of two dwarf honeybee species from Thailand using next-generation sequencing. Each mitochondrial genome was a circular and approximately 17 kbp molecule that included 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes, along with one A + T-rich control region, besides three tRNA-Ser (AGN) repeats. The AT content values of the mitochondrial genomes of A. florea and A. andreniformis were 86.28% and 85.73%, respectively. The 1150 mutation sites in 13 PCGs differing between A. florea and A. andreniformis in Thailand were evenly distributed throughout their mitochondrial genomes. The phylogenetic relationship, inferred using 13 PCGs, was consistent with that reported in previous studies, which predicted a sister relationship between A. florea and A. andreniformis.