We monitored the genetic structure of a large feral bee population in Arizona before, during and after the movement of Africanized bees into the area. Prior to 1995, the population consisted entirely of European mtDNA types (RFLP's), primarily Apis mellifera mellifera and Apis mellifera ligustica. The population showed three alleles for the allozyme MDH-1; frequencies for the slow allele (MDH60) were over 60%. Genotypic analyses for MDH-1 indicated that the population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In 1995, the first Africanized swarms were identified. African swarm colonies had Apis mellifera scutellata mtDNA and approximately 80% representation of the fast (MDH100) allele. From 1995-1998 the proportion of colonies with MDH100 and with African mtDNA increased in the population. However, the population has been genetically stable for the past two years. Genotypic frequencies for MDH have returned to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, but allele frequencies for this locus are now similar to those in the original Africanized swarms. Our data indicate a rapid introgression of Africanized genome into this population, with an essential replacement of the European genome.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Apidae Apis mellifera (honey bee, Africanized honey bee)
Keywords: Invasive species, Population genetics
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