This footage was filmed and produced 29 February 2024.

In a surprising turn of events, invasive Asian honeybees have not only survived but thrived in North Queensland, much to the frustration of the honey industry and biosecurity officials. A recent study published in Current Biology has revealed that the species, Apis cerana, has managed to overcome genetic challenges to grow from a single swarm into a population of over 10,000 colonies spread across a 10,000 square kilometre area - roughly the size of Greater Sydney.

The research team's findings have shed light on the ability of certain species to adjust and thrive in new environments, even with limited genetic diversity. This case study is particularly important in the face of climate change and the increasing number of species dealing with anthropogenic challenges.

The arrival of the invasive honeybee colony in 2007, suspected to have come from Papua New Guinea, raised concerns due to the potential parasites they may carry. Fortunately, the bees were found to not be carrying the varroa mite, a dreaded parasite that has since made its way to Australia through unknown means, posing a significant threat to the domestic honey industry.

Thanks to extensive sampling efforts by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries during the early years of the invasion, the research team was able to obtain a valuable genetic timeline of the population. By re-sequencing genomes of 118 individual bees collected over 10 years, the scientists were able to observe natural selection at work in a population that started with low genetic diversity.

The collaboration between scientists from various institutions, including York University, IPB University, Bandung Institute of Technology, and CSIRO, has provided valuable insights into the adaptability and resilience of invasive species in the face of changing environments. Though troubling for ecosystems already struggling with invasive species, this study offers hope for populations facing temporary crashes due to disasters like bushfires or climate change.