A small shift in VSH-gene frequency instead of rapid parallel evolution in bees. A comment on Oddie et al. 2018
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Abstract
We refute a recent claim that parallel evolution in four European populations of honeybees has resulted in a not previously reported behavioural defence mechanism of the bees against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, i.e. the ability of uncapping/recapping to reduce mite reproductive success. There are no data to support this claim, while there is a more plausible alternative interpretation of the reduced mite reproduction, i.e. reduction of mites through Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. We provide evidence why the former mechanism cannot explain resistance against Varroa in honeybees and the latter is instrumental in reducing Varroa populations.
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2019. A small shift in VSH-gene frequency instead of rapid parallel evolution in bees. A comment on Oddie et al. 2018. PeerJ Preprints 7:e27938v2 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.27938v2Author comment
We have added some references and provided evidence that (1) the frequency of infertile mites in recapped cells is not significantly different between normally capped and recapped cells. (2) non-hygienic bees are recapping cells uncapped by hygienic bees, thus reducing the efficacy of hygienic bees against Varroa (3 references). This further supports our interpretation of Oddie et al.'s (2018) data and refutes their claim that recapping is a functional defence against Varroa.
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Competing Interests
Jacques van Alphen is Chairman of the board of the Arista Bee Research Foundation. By Dutch law, members of the board of a Foundation cannot be paid by that Foundation.
BartJan Fernhout is Director of the Arista Bee Research Foundation. He receives part of salary from the Foundation.
The Arista Bee Foundation breeds Varroa Resistant Bees together with volunteer beekeepers in several European Countries. The submitted manuscript is not part of the Arista Bee Research Programme.
Author Contributions
Jacques J M van Alphen analyzed the data, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
BartJan Fernhout authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Data Deposition
The following information was supplied regarding data availability:
The preprint is a comment on a published paper and does not publish new data.
Funding
The authors received no funding for this work.
