Genome of the bee Holcopasites calliopsidis-a species showing the common apid trait of brood parasitism

Brood parasites represent a substantial but often poorly studied fraction of the wider diversity of bees. Brood parasitic bees complete their life cycles by infiltrating the nests of solitary host bees thereby enabling their offspring to exploit the food provisions intended for the host's offspring. Here, we present the draft assembly of the bee Holcopasites calliopsidis, the first brood parasitic species to be the subject of detailed genomic analysis. Consistent with previous findings on the genomic signatures of parasitism more broadly, we find that H. calliopsidis has the smallest genome currently known among bees (179 Mb). This small genome does not appear to be the result of purging of repetitive DNA, with some indications of novel repetitive elements which may show signs of recent expansion. Nor does H. calliopsidis demonstrate any apparent net loss of genic content in comparison with nonparasitic species, though many individual gene families do show significant contractions. Although the basis of the small genome size of this species remains unclear, the identification of over 12,000 putative genes-with functional annotation for nearly 10,000 of these-is an important step in investigating the genomic basis of brood parasitism and provides a valuable dataset to be compared against new genomes that remain to be sequenced.

Automated summary

Brood parasites, such as Holcopasites calliopsidis, are an important but understudied group within the wider diversity of bees. This study presents the draft assembly of H. calliopsidis, the first brood parasitic species to undergo detailed genomic analysis. It was found that H. calliopsidis has the smallest genome among bees, with no apparent loss of genic content but significant contractions in individual gene families. The discovery of over 12,000 putative genes, with functional annotation for nearly 10,000 of them, provides valuable insights into the genomic basis of brood parasitism.