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In this study, the first complete mitogenome of Andrenidae, namely Andrena camellia, is newly sequenced. It includes 13 protein-coding (PCG) genes, 22 transfer RNA (rRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region. Among PCGs, high conservation is observed in cytochrome oxidase genes with cox1 exhibits the highest conservation. Conversely, NADH dehydrogenase and ATPase subunit genes are more variable with atp8 presents the maximal variation. Comparison of the gene order indicates complex rearrangement in bees. Most of the rearranged events are located in the tRNA clusters of trnI-trnQ-trnM, trnW-trnC-trnY, and trnA-trnR-trnN-trnS1-trnE-trnF. Furthermore, we present the most comprehensive mitochondrial phylogeny of bee families. The monophyly of each family and the long-tongued bees is highly supported. However, short-tongued bees are inferred as paraphyletic relative to the sister relationship between Melittidae and other bee families. Furthermore, to improve the resolution of phylogeny, various datasets and analytical approaches are performed. It is indicated that datasets including third codons of PCGs facilitate to produce identical topology and higher nodal support. The tRNA genes that have typical cloverleaf secondary structures also exhibit similar positive effects. However, rRNAs present poor sequence alignment and distinct substitution saturation, which result in negative effects on both tree topology and nodal support. In addition, Gblocks treatment can increase the congruence of topologies, but has opposite effects on nodal support between the two inference methods of maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference.

The mitogenome of Habropoda rodoszkowskii, the first complete mitogenome sequence of the genus Habropoda (hymenoptera: Apidae), was sequenced. The mitogenome is 18,497 bp (The proportion of A + T in 80.7%) long, with 37 classic eukaryotic mitochondrial genes (including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs) and an AT-rich region (The proportion of A + T in 78.2%). The Bayesian-inference and Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic relationship was constructed using 15 species from Hymenoptera. According to the phylogenetic tree, Habropoda rodoszkowskii converges with genus Nomada bees (Nomada flava and Nomada flavoguttata) to be supported. In addition, Habropoda rodoszkowskii is more closely related to Apidae than to Megahilidae and Colletidae.

Insect-associated microorganisms play important roles in the health and development of insects. This study aimed to investigate the similarities and differences in bacterial community structure and composition between the larval gut of Osmia excavata, nest soil, and brood provision from the nest tube. We sequenced larvae gut and their environments’ microorganisms of O. excavata from four locations based on full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The results showed 156, 280, and 366 bacterial OTUs from gut, brood provision, and nest soil, respectively, and three groups shared 131 bacterial OTUs. In the gut, the top two dominant bacteria were Sodalis praecaptivus (68.99%), Lactobacillus micheneri (17.95%). In the brood provision, the top two dominant bacteria were S. praecaptivus (26.66%), Acinetobacter nectaris (13.05%), and in the nest soil, the two most abundant bacteria were Gaiella occulta (4.33%), Vicinamibacter silvestris (3.88%). There were significant differences in diversity between the brood provision groups and the nest soil groups, respectively. Three of the four locations did not differ for gut microbial diversity. Bacteria similar to other solitary bees also existed in the gut of the larvae. Results indicated when the habitat environments were similar, the bacterial community diversity of the gut of O. excavata was similar, despite significant differences among brood provisions and soils, respectively.

Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea and Anthophila) are distributed worldwide and considered the primary pollinators of angiosperm. Megachilidae is one of the largest families of Anthophila. In this study, two complete mitogenomes of cuckoo bees in Megachilidae, namely Coelioxys fenestrata and Euaspis polynesia, were amplified and sequenced, with a length of 17,004 bp (C. fenestrata) and 17,682 bp (E. polynesia). The obtained results show that 37 mitogenomic genes and one putative control region were conserved within Hymenoptera. Truncated stop codon T was found in the cox3 gene of E. polynesia. The secondary structure of small (rrnS) and large (rrnL) rRNA subunits contained three domains (28 helices) and five domains (44 helices) conserved within Hymenoptera, respectively. Compared with ancestral gene order, gene rearrangement events included local inversion and gene shuffling. In order to reveal the phylogenetic position of cuckoo bees, we performed phylogenetic analysis. The results supported that all families of Anthophila were monophyletic, the tribe-level relationship of Megachilidae was Osmiini + (Anthidiini + Megachilini) and Coelioxys fenestrata was clustered to the Megachile genus, which was more closely related to Megachile sculpturalis and Megachile strupigera than Euaspis polynesia.

The Halictidae, where the Seladonia aeraria belongs, was an important model organism for studying the evolution of insect social behavior. We first sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Seladonia aeraria. The mitogenome was 15, 410 bp in length, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a hypothetical control region. In order to reveal the phylogenetic position of Seladonia aeraria form mitogenomic level, we performed phylogenetic analysis of 13 PCGs from 15 species. The results revealed that the genus-level relationship of Halictidae was Seladonia + Lasioglossum and Seladonia aeraria was more closely related to Seladonia tumulorum than Lasioglossum sp. SJW_2017. The complete mitogenome of S. aeraria will provide a basis for further study evolution and phylogenetic analysis of Halictidae.

Chinese sacbrood disease (CSD), which is caused by Chinese sacbrood virus (CSBV), is a major viral disease in Apis cerana cerana larvae. Analysis of lipid composition is critical to the study of CSBV replication. The host lipidome profiling during CSBV infection has not been conducted. This paper identified the lipidome of the CSBV–larvae interaction through high-resolution mass spectrometry. A total of 2164 lipids were detected and divided into 20 categories. Comparison of lipidome between healthy and CSBV infected-larvae showed that 266 lipid species were altered by CSBV infection. Furthermore, qRT-PCR showed that various sphingolipid enzymes and the contents of sphingolipids in the larvae were increased, indicating that sphingolipids may be important for CSBV infection. Importantly, Cer (d14:1 + hO/21:0 + O), DG (41:0e), PE (18:0e/18:3), SM (d20:0/19:1), SM (d37:1), TG (16:0/18:1/18:3), TG (18:1/20:4/21:0) and TG (43:7) were significantly altered in both CSBV_24 h vs. CK_24 h and CSBV_48 h vs. CK_48 h. Moreover, TG (39:6), which was increased by more than 10-fold, could be used as a biomarker for the early detection of CSD. This study provides evidence that global lipidome homeostasis in A. c. cerana larvae is remodeled after CSBV infection. Detailed studies in the future may improve the understanding of the relationship between the sphingolipid pathway and CSBV replication.

The complete mitogenome of Nomia chalybeata was sequenced. The mitochondrial length of N. chalybeata was 16,692 bp (AT content 85.4%), with 37 classic invertebrate mitochondrial genes (including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transporter RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs) and AT-rich region (AT content 91.7%). The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic relationship was constructed using 11 species from Hymenoptera. Through the phylogenetic relationship, our research team successfully used the molecular data of the mitochondrial genome to verify that N. chalybeata belongs to the family Halictidae, and also provides molecular data for the database of the family Halictidae.

The complete mitogenome of Lasioglossum affine (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) was sequenced and analyzed. The whole mitogenome is 17,352 bp (AT%=84.1%) and encodes 37 typical eukaryotic mitochondrial genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and an AT-rich region. Further analysis found three gene rearrangements, where trn I-Q-M → trn M-I-Q, trn W-C-Y → trn C-W-Y, and trn K-D → trn D-K were shuffled. The phylogenetic relationships of 19 species of Hymenoptera were established using maximum-likelihood method based on 13 concatenated PCGs. The result showed that Lasioglossum affine is a sister of Lasioglossum sp. SJW-2017.

Andrena camellia Wu is one of the primary pollinators of Camellia oleifera A. in China. In this paper, the essential number of individuals for efficient pollination by this species was calculated via two criteria, based on various indicators including counts of pollen grains in provisions, from single visits, and from single foraging trips overall; single flower visit duration; single flight period duration; number of eggs laid by a single female over their lifetime; and the average number of flowers per plant. Based on the number of pollen grains collected per flower visit, the essential number of females necessary is 2107 in a 1-ha Camellia oleifera garden with 1800 plants, while only 1998 female individuals are essentially needed when estimated based on the mean number of pollen grains collected in a single flight period. We argue that the essential number estimated by the former method is more reasonable and accurate for practical applications.

In this study, genetic differences among 24 populations of Gynura procumbens from different geographical regions were studied using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and trnL-trnF sequences. The ITS sequence had an aligned length of 718 bp and a G+ C content of 49.8%, with five variable sites and three parsimonious informative sites. The trnL-trnF sequence had an aligned length of 835 bp and a G+ C content of 35.0%, with six variable sites and three parsimonious informative sites. The phylogenetic tree based on trnL-trnF sequences showed that all populations of G. procumbens clustered into one branch, indicating that this sequence has strong identification abilities in genetic difference research. Phylogenetic analysis using both ITS and trnL-trnF sequences showed similar results. Populations collected from Taiwan and Indonesia were grouped into one clade, whereas those collected from Guizhou, Guangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong shared close relationships corresponding to their geographical distribution patterns.