Population genomics and demographic inferences of host switch events by Varroa mites from the Eastern to the Western honey bee

The genomic sequences generated here were used for comparative and population genomics of two honey bee ectoparasitic mites sister species Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni. Both of these mites were able to successfully switch host from the Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) to the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). Whole-genome of single female mite collected on their original and new hosts in their native area (Asia and Oceania) were sequenced to study the evolutive patterns following host shifts and retrace their demographic history.