Phylogenetic variations found in Indian honeybee species, Apis cerana Fabr. of North Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

Molecular systematics of honeybee species Apis cerana Fabr. inhabiting North Western Ghats of India have not been investigated till date. This is the first report of phylogenetic variation in Apis cerana bees sampled from five diverse ecotypes of North Western Ghats of Maharashtra, viz. Pune, Nashik, Mahabaleshwar, Bhimashankar and Wai. Over the years, taxonomy of honeybee has been mostly based on morphometric characters. In the present study, we carried out molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence with respect to COI gene. It was further aimed to confirm the taxonomical status of A. cerana from the Western Ghats of India in comparison with the Asian populations of A. Cerana.

Desiccation stress induces developmental heterochrony in Drosophila melanogaster.

Stressful environments are known to perturb developmental patterns in insects. In the purview of desiccation as a stressor, relatively little is known about the developmental consequences linked with desiccation tolerance. In this study, we have particularly focused on the exploration of the temporal profile of postembryonic development in response to desiccation exposure in Drosophila melanogaster and the associated trade-offs. We document a correlation between variations in 20-hydroxyecdysone levels and the altered timing of metamorphic events during the life cycle. Following desiccation, we observed an extension in the larval longevity whereas the duration of the pupal and adult stages was significantly shortened. Alternately, feeding of 20-hydroxyecdysone apparently led to the restoration of the normal temporal pattern of development in the desiccated group. In spite of the desiccation-responsive heterochronic shifts in development, the overall lifespan post recovery remained almost unaltered among the desiccated and undesiccated groups suggesting plasticity in developmental control. This observation reminisces ‘canalization-like’ phenomenon that buffers alterations in the overall lifespan. We thus identified a desiccationresponsive period in the lifespan of D. melanogaster during which variations in ecdysone levels are capable to alter the temporal course of development.