Asian bumblebees turn out to be a genetically distinct group
Su L, Ding L, Williams PH, Liu Y, Wang R
Pollinators
The bumblebee bumbling through your tomato blossoms belongs to a species whose Asian relatives carry cold- and drought-tolerant genes that could matter for pollinator conservation as climates shift.
Bumblebees are essential pollinators, and one species, the buff-tailed bumblebee, is even raised commercially to pollinate greenhouse crops like tomatoes. Researchers sequenced the genomes of 77 wild and farmed bumblebees from Europe and Asia and discovered the Asian population is genetically and physically distinct from its European cousins, having evolved special traits to cope with harsh sun, cold, and dry conditions. That means Asia holds a unique genetic reservoir of this pollinator that deserves its own conservation attention rather than being lumped in with European stocks.
Key Findings
Whole-genome resequencing of 77 buff-tailed bumblebees revealed clear genetic differentiation between European and Asian populations (FST = 0.076)
Effective population size grew during past cold periods, pointing to cold-adapted traits in the species
331 genes showed signs of selection in Asian bumblebees, likely linked to adapting to high UV radiation, low temperatures, and low precipitation
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists compared the DNA of bumblebees across Europe and Asia and found the Asian bees are genetically distinct, cold-hardy, and carry genes that help them handle intense sun and dry conditions, making them a separate genetic resource worth protecting.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Genetic differentiation and adaptive evolution of buff-tailed bumblebees in Asia.
Bumblebees are important pollinating insects, so their declines resulting from environmental change have received intensive attention. Understanding how environmental factors shape the genetic stru...
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