Assessing the Utility of a PCR Diagnostics Marker for the Identification of Africanized Honey Bee, Apis mellifera L., (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the United States.

Abstract

An assessment of a molecular diagnostic technique for distinguishing Africanized honey bees from European honey bees in the United States was conducted. Results from multiplex PCR diagnostics of a mitochondrial DNA cyt-b marker corresponded with results based on COI-COII sequencing analysis, but differed from morphometric analysis results. We suggest utilizing both multiplex PCR and morphometric methods for Africanized honey bee diagnostics in the United States, when possible.