Abstract
European lineages of Apis mellifera were first introduced into America for beekeeping purposes. A subsequent introduction and accidental release of A. m. scutellata resulted in hybridization events that gave rise to Africanized populations that rapidly spread throughout the continent. In Argentina, Africanized honey bees (AHBs) have been mostly detected in northern regions of the territory, and represent a valuable genetic resource for the selection of stocks with advantageous characteristics for beekeeping. The objective of the present study was to profile honey bee colonies of wild origin with potential beneficial traits for apiculture using morphological, molecular and behavioral traits. Honey bee colonies chosen for evaluation were located in two different agro-ecological regions in north-western Argentina (Tucumán province): The Chaco Depressed Plain (Leales apiary) and the Piedmont (Famaillá apiary). Each apiary was surveyed three times during the 2017–2018 season (mid-season, wintertime, and early spring) for: brood population, phoretic Varroa level and defensive behavior (run, fly, sting, and hang). At the midpoint of the beekeeping season colonies were also characterized by morphometry (45 variables) and mitochondrial haplotypes (COI–COII intergenic region). Apiaries studied showed similar patterns throughout the beekeeping season, for most of the characteristics monitored. However, significant variation in defensive behavior parameters was found between apiaries at the different times of evaluation. Twelve of 45 morphometric variables also showed significant differences between apiaries. The mitochondrial haplotype analysis revealed a high representation of African A4 and A1 haplotypes (91%) in both apiaries. Haplotype variation was associated with morphometric and behavioral traits. Multivariate analyses [principal component analysis (PCA) and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA)] including morphometric and behavior variables explained 65.3% (PCA) and 48.1% (PCoA) of the variability observed between colonies in the first two components. Several morphometric parameters and “fly” behavior were mainly associated with the separation of the colonies. The results from this study point to a possible association between morphometric and behavioral variation and the adaptation of honey bee colonies to differential agro-ecological conditions. We discuss how the detected variation between apiaries can be used for the selection and preservation of honey bee ecotypes in regional breeding programs.
Highlights
The western honey bee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), plays a crucial role in crop pollination and is considered the most important honey producer worldwide (Navajas et al, 2008; Van Engelsdorp and Meixner, 2010; Guzmán-Novoa et al, 2011; Iqbal et al, 2019)
In 1956, scientists introduced the African subspecies A. m. scutellata (A lineage) into Brazil for the purpose of improving the genetics of honey bees established in tropical climates
We describe colony parameters, in conjunction with morphometric, defensive behavior, and genetic characteristics of two apiaries with wild honey bee colonies located in different agro-ecological regions of north-western Argentina (Tucumán province)
Summary
The western honey bee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), plays a crucial role in crop pollination and is considered the most important honey producer worldwide (Navajas et al, 2008; Van Engelsdorp and Meixner, 2010; Guzmán-Novoa et al, 2011; Iqbal et al, 2019). This species has shown great adaptive potential, as it has established in diverse environments (Le Conte and Navajas, 2008; Meixner et al, 2013). Africanized populations spread throughout America, increasing the genetic diversity of local resources or ecotypes (Buco et al, 1986; Sheppard et al, 1991; Guzmán-Novoa et al, 2011)
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