Population genetics and host specificity of Varroa destructor mites infesting eastern and western honeybees.

ABSTRACT: In a globalized world, parasites are often brought in contact with new potential hosts. When parasites successfully shift host, severe diseases can emerge at a large cost to society. However, the evolutionary processes leading to successful shifts are rarely understood, hindering risk assessment, prevention, or mitigation of their effects. Here, we screened populations of Varroa destructor, an ectoparasitic mite of the honeybee genus Apis, to investigate their genetic structure and reproductive potential on new and original hosts. From the patterns identified, we deduce the factors that influenced the macro- and microevolutionary processes that led to the structure observed. Among the mite variants identified, we found two genetically similar populations that differed in thei

SUBMITTER: Lin Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8549952 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature