Molecular and morphometric analysis of feral honey bees

The introduction of Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier into South America in the early 1950’s has permanently affected the genetic landscape of honey bee populations in the Americas. Previously, the degree of African genetic introgression has been tested using mitochondrial and morphometric analyses. The accuracy of these diagnostic tools are limited when used on populations with low or intermediate levels of Africanization or Africanized populations occurring at the edge of their optimal range. Also these tests do not discriminate paternal genetic contributions. This study will utilize next generation sequencing technologies to develop and identify African specific nuclear markers for determining the paternal contribution of Africanized genes. Unmanaged colonies will be collected along a transect running from New York to Florida. Honey bee samples will be analyzed using these next generation sequencing technologies and standard morphometric and mitochondrial analyses. Results from this study will be used to determine the introgression of Africanized alleles from both maternal and paternal sources in unmanaged honey bee populations along a north-south transect on the eastern coast of the United States.