Molecular ecological characterization of a honey bee ectoparasitic mite, Tropilaelaps mercedesae

Tropilaelaps mercedesae (small mite) is one of two major honey bee ectoparasitic mite species responsible for the colony losses of Apis mellifera in Asia. Although T. mercedesae mites are still restricted in Asia (except Japan), they may diffuse all over the world due to the ever-increasing global trade of live honey bees (ex. Varroa destructor). Understanding the ecological characteristics of T. mercedesae at molecular level could potentially result in improving the management and control programs. However, molecular and genomic characterization of T. mercedesae remains poorly studied, and even no genes have been deposited in Genbank to date. Therefore, I conducted T. mercedesae genome and transcriptome sequencing. By comparing T. mercedesae genome with other arthropods, I have gained new insights into evolution of Parasitiformes and the evolutionary changes associated with specific habitats and life history of honey bee ectoparasitic mite that could potentially improve the control programs of T. mercedesae. Finally, characterization of T. mercedesae transient receptor potential channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TmTRPA1) would also help us to develop a novel control method for T. mercedesae.