Population Genomics and Morphology Provide Insights into the Conservation and Diversity of <i>Apis laboriosa</i>.

ABSTRACT: In recent decades, honeybee populations have declined, dramatically owing to destructive honey harvesting practices and the loss of foraging grounds and nesting sites. Among them, Apis laboriosa Smith, 1871 (Hymenoptera, Apidae), an important pollinator species found in the Himalayan region, holds significant economic and ecological value. However, conservation efforts and intraspecific taxonomic studies regarding it have been rather limited, and thus its full geographic range remains elusive. This study is the first to research A. laboriosa in Sichuan. Through a systematic study integrating morphological feature analysis and genomic data, the following conclusions are drawn. Whole-genome resequencing data analysis reveals that the Sichuan population forms a new monophyletic

SUBMITTER: Liu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12112060 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature