Genetic diversity of honey bees, Apis mellifera, from south central United States

We have conducted a study on genetic diversity of honey bees from Arkansas and Oklahoma using DNA sequencing of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene, focusing primarily on feral populations. From the bees analyzed, a total of 9 haplotypes were observed which belonged to the lingustica, mellifera, scutellata (Africanized honey bee, AHB), and syrica lineages . The finding of bees belonging to the syrica lineage is of interest, since this is the first observation of bees from middle eastern decent in the United States. Also of interest is the observation of a number of Apis mellifera mellifera genotypes in Arkansas. This subspecies of European decent has not been maintained by beekeepers for a number of years and our preliminary data gives support that feral bee populations are being maintained in Arkansas and may act as a resource for maintaining genetic diversity of the species.