Editor’s Choice for the Week of January 17, 2022 – PCT – PCT Online

A mannequin new UF/IFAS research recognized genetic traits related to the manufacturing and conductal attrihoweveres Of these two key bee subspecies. For event, evaluationers found Cape bees to be significantly darkisher than Africanized bees. This darkish coloring Might be genetically correlated to their undesired conduct.

Each subspecies are undesired in America. The primary, the “killer bee” or “Africanized honey bee,” acknowledged scientifically as A.m. scutellata, is A Lightweight-coloured bee acknowledged for its territorial and defensive nature. This subspecies was taken from its native habitat in South Africa to Brazil Inside the 1950’s. There, it hybridized with The eu bee subspecies stored by Brazilian beekeepers, After which moved into the U.S. A.m. scutellata are thought-about invasive bees And might take over colonies of managed honey bees, Which might decrease income for beekeepers. Additionally they are acknowledged For his or her heightened defensive conduct.

The second subspecies studied, the “cape honey bee,” acknowledged scientifically as A.m. capensis, presents a slew of factors to beekeepers. These bees are extra docile however are extra probably than African honey bees to take over hives. Cape bees are thought-about social parasites. In distinction to completely different honey bee subspecies, cape worker bees can clone themselves, producing feminine eggs with out first mating. These clones can take over a hive. These staff can’t reproduce On The identical price as A regular queen and the colony will finally dwindle and collapse, a phenomenon coined “capensis calamity.”

“More superb than the cape bee worker’s capability to clone itself is The velocity at which It could take over completely different colonies,” said Jamie Ellis, UF/IFAS professor. “We’re working To Guarantee these bees Do not make their Method to America as a Outcome …….

Source: https://www.pctonline.com/article/editors-choice-jan-2022/