Population genetics of ectoparasitic mites suggest arms race with honeybee hosts.

ABSTRACT: The ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is the most severe biotic threat to honeybees (Apis mellifera) globally, usually causing colony death within a few years without treatments. While it is known that a few A. mellifera populations survive mite infestations by means of natural selection, the possible role of mite adaptations remains unclear. To investigate potential changes in mite populations in response to host adaptations, the genetic structure of V. destructor in the mite-resistant A. mellifera population on Gotland, Sweden, was studied. Spatio-temporal genetic changes were assessed by comparing mites collected in these colonies, as well as from neighboring mite-susceptible colonies, in historic (2009) and current (2017/2018) samples. The results show significant changes in the g

SUBMITTER: Beaurepaire AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6684582 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature