Abstract
Apis mellifera capensis Eschscholtz and A.m. scutellata Lepeletier are subspecies of western honey bees that are indigenous to the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Both subspecies have invasive potential and are organisms of concern for areas outside their native range, though they are important bees to beekeepers, agriculture, and the environment where they are native. The aim of the present study was to examine genetic differentiation among these subspecies and estimate their phylogenetic relationships using complete mitochondrial genomes sequences. We used 25 individuals that were either assigned to one of the subspecies or designated hybrids using morphometric analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of mitogenome sequences by maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference identified a monophyletic RSA clade, subdivided into two clades. A haplotype network was consistent with the phylogenetic trees. However, members of both subspecies occurred in both clades, indicating that A.m. capensis and A.m. scutellata are neither reciprocally monophyletic nor do they exhibit paraphyly with one subspecies nested within the other subspecies. Furthermore, no mitogenomic features were diagnostic to either subspecies. All bees analyzed from the RSA expressed a substantial level of haplotype diversity (most samples had unique haplotypes) but limited nucleotide diversity. The number of variable codons across protein-coding genes (PCGs) differed among loci, with CO3 exhibiting the most variation and ATP6 the least.
Highlights
The western honeybee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) is a eusocial species and a major pollinator that is ecologically and economically important[1,2]
There are two honey bee subspecies that are indigenous to the Republic of South Africa (RSA), A.m. scutellata Lepeletier 1836 and A.m. capensis Eschscholtz 1821
The results of this study provide new insights regarding the mitogenome diversity of honey bee maternal lineages in RSA, and clearly underscore the need for large-scale genomic studies in biogeography and evolutionary ecology of Apis
Summary
The western honeybee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) is a eusocial species and a major pollinator that is ecologically and economically important[1,2]. Apis mellifera capensis (the Cape honey bee) is exclusively distributed in the RSA, whereas the distribution of A.m. scutellata extends north, out of the RSA, into the middle of the continent[9] Both of these subspecies differ reproductively and behaviorally and both exhibit traits that confer strong invasive potential. Apis mellifera scutellata (the African savannah honey bee) is known for being defensive, having a high swarming rate, being migratory, and possessing other phenotypes many beekeepers view negatively[9,18,19]. This is the bee that was introduced into Brazil in 195720,21 and later became known as the “African,” “Africanized,” or “killer” bee of the Americas as it expanded its range throughout South, Central, and Southern North America[22,23,24]
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