Phylogenetic Analysis of Small Hive Beetles From Native to Introduced Populations

Abstract

The small hive beetle (SHB), a social parasite of beehives, is native to sub-Saharan Africa and has spread to America, Europe, and Australia. Recently, these beetles invaded China, causing widespread colony collapses in the honeybee, Apis cerana. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the beetle genome from its native range (Africa), a region that was invaded by SHBs nearly 30 years ago (America), and more recent invasions (Asia). The beetles in the United States formed the earliest branch and show signs of two decades of gene flow and local adaptation to differentiate this population from the native ones. The beetles in China were deep branched and showed the highest fixation index when compared to the US populations. The number of SNPs in overexpressed genes was significantly higher than the transcriptome. Gene-expression profiles presented here distinguish the characters between adult and larvae SHBs.

To the skies and underground : Ecological and behavioural aspects of dispersal and pupation of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray; Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) as an invasive species

“…Also note that due to the global scale, details regarding the exact introduction locations and population ranges are lost. See Bai et al (2022), Bulacio Cagnolo et al (2023, and for detailed information on locations, invasion pathways and the genetic background of SHB invasions.…”

“…This condition would limit the need for dispersal of the SHB, which could potentially result in reduced flight capacity over time. Furthermore, invasive populations are mostly the result of single introductions from specific locations in the natural range, which show genetically distinct characteristics (Bai et al, 2022). Hence, the dispersal capacity could vary between invasive populations as well, which can have consequences for the spread of SHB as an invasive species (Tobin & Robinet, 2022).…”

“…Although the western honey bee is not a novel host, the range expansion of the SHB has led to the incursion of nests of other social insect species. These include Apis cerana native to Asia (Bai et al, 2022;Zhao et al, 2020), stingless bee species in Australia, Asia and South America Greco et al, 2010;Halcroft, 2007;Pereira et al, 2021) and bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) in North America (Ambrose et al, 2000;Spiewok & Neumann, 2006b). Nest incursion does not always lead to negative effects on the presumed new host, but given the opportunistic and generalist nature of the SHBs, it is possible that in some cases it will.…”

“…Successful strategies however, require a better understanding of the biological mechanisms involved and the environmental conditions that affect the SHB as an invasive alien species. Bai et al (2022), Bulacio Cagnolo et al (2023, and . The brown colour shows the approximate area in which the SHB is endemic.…”

“…Both within and beyond the natural range, the SHB has also been associated with other host species, such as honey bee species native to Asia, stingless bees in Africa, South America and Australia, and bumble bees and solitary bees in North America Gonthier et al, 2019;Pereira et al, 2021;Spiewok & Neumann, 2006;reviewed by Neumann et al, 2016). These host shifts could potentially have dire consequences for managed and wild host populations, the extent of which is yet to be documented (Bai et al, 2022;Neumann et al, 2016). Past biological invasions of the SHB show a strong correlation between genetics and international honey bee wax trade data, thereby suggesting that commercial apicultural imports constitute the main gateway for crossing biogeographical boundaries .…”