The genomic tool box to transform a short lived social bee into a long lived social parasite

We will address the genetic basis controlling the transition from a social to a parasitic honeybee worker (Apis mellifera capensis) and compare this with the transitions from a social Bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris) to its cuckoo bumblebee species (B. vestalis). The evolution of social parasitism and the loss of sociality in the parasites allows for studying the uncoupling of the fecundity/longevity trade-off in social bees at the genomic level.