Insights fromMelipona bicolorhybrid genome assembly: A stingless bee genome with chromosome-level scaffold

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe highly eusocial stingless bees are crucial pollinators of native and agricultural ecosystems. Nevertheless, genomic studies within this bee tribe remain scarce. We present the genome assembly of the stingless beeMelipona bicolor. This bee is a remarkable exception to the typical single-queen colony structure, since in this species, multiple queens may coexist and share reproductive duties, resulting in genetically diverse colonies with weak kinship connections. As the only known genuinely polygynous bee,M. bicolor’s genome provides a valuable resource for investigating sociality beyond kin selection.ResultsThe genome was assembled employing a hybrid approach combining short and long reads, resulting in 241 contigs spanning 259 Mb (N50 of 6.2 Mb and 97.5% complete BUSCOs). Comparative analyses shed light on some evolutionary aspects of stingless bee genomics, including multiple chromosomal rearrangements inMelipona. Additionally, we explored the evolution of venom genes inM. bicolorand other stingless bees, revealing that, apart from two genes, the conserved repertoire of venom components remains under purifying selection in this clade.ConclusionThis study advances our understanding of stingless bee genomics, contributing to the conservation efforts of these vital pollinators and offering insights into the evolutionary mechanisms driving their unique adaptations.