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Science 19 July 1991:
Vol. 253. no. 5017, pp. 309 - 311
DOI: 10.1126/science.253.5017.309
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Articles

Hybridization Between European and Africanized Honey Bees in the Neotropical Yucatan Peninsula

THOMAS E. RINDERER 1, J. ANTHONY STELZER 1, BENJAMIN P. OLDROYD 1, STEVEN M. BUCO 2, and WILLIAM L. RUBINK 3

1 USDA Agricultural Research Service, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Laboratory, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820
2 Statistical Resources, 7338 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
3 USDA Agricultural Research Laboratory, Honey Bee Research Laboratory 2413 Eastern Highway 82, Building 205, Weslaco, TX 78596

A population genetic analysis of honey bees of the Mexican neotropical Yucatan peninsula shows that the range expansion of Africanized bees there has involved extensive introgressive hybridization with European bees. Yucatan honey bee populations now include many colonies with intermediate morphologies. Genotypes of mitochondria have disassociated from historically correlated Africanized or European morphology, producing diverse phenotypic associations. This suggests that the size of resident European populations may be important in explaining previously reported asymmetrical hybridization. Evidence of natural hybridization is encouraging for the use of genetic management to mitigate the effects of Africanized bees in the United States.

Submitted on February 11, 1991
Accepted on May 8, 1991


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Thrice Out of Africa: Ancient and Recent Expansions of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera.
C. W. Whitfield, S. K. Behura, S. H. Berlocher, A. G. Clark, J. S. Johnston, W. S. Sheppard, D. R. Smith, A. V. Suarez, D. Weaver, and N. D. Tsutsui (2006)
Science 314, 642-645
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Africanization in the United States: Replacement of Feral European Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) by an African Hybrid Swarm.
M. A. Pinto, W. L. Rubink, J. C. Patton, R. N. Coulson, and J. S. Johnston (2005)
Genetics 170, 1653-1665
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)