Comparative genomics suggests local adaptations in the invasive small hive beetle.

Invasive species are a major driver of ecological and environmental changes that affect human health, food security, and natural biodiversity. The success and impact of biological invasions depend on adaptations to novel abiotic and biotic selective pressures. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptations in invasive parasitic species are inadequately understood.

Adaptive population structure shifts in invasive parasitic mites, .

Comparative studies of genetic diversity and population structure can shed light on the ecological and evolutionary factors governing host-parasite interactions. Even though invasive parasites are considered of major biological importance, little is known about their adaptative potential when infesting the new hosts. Here, the genetic diversification of , a novel parasite of originating from Asia, was investigated using population genetics to determine how the genetic structure of the parasite changed in distinct European populations of its new host.

Reproduction of ectoparasitic mites in a coevolved system: spp.-Eastern honey bees, .

Parasite host shifts can impose a high selective pressure on novel hosts. Even though the coevolved systems can reveal fundamental aspects of host-parasite interactions, research often focuses on the new host-parasite relationships. This holds true for two ectoparasitic mite species, and , which have shifted hosts from Eastern honey bees, , to Western honey bees, , generating colony losses of these pollinators globally.

Reproduction of parasitic mites in original and new honeybee hosts.

The ectoparasitic mite, , shifted host from the eastern honeybee, , to the western honeybee, . Whereas the original host survives infestations by this parasite, they are lethal to colonies of its new host. Here, we investigated a population of naturally infested by the Korea haplotype that gave rise to the globally invasive mite lineage.