Gene Loss and Ecological Adaption in Honeybee Venom: Exploring the apparent absence of Melittin in Apis andreniformis

Venom composition within the Apis genus varies due to ecological divergence. In Apis mellifera, melittin constitutes 40–60% of venom dry weight and functions as the primary cytolytic toxin. However, BLAST analyses failed to identify a detectable melittin homolog in Apis andreniformis, despite evidence of comparable venom potency. Using comparative genomics and literature-based venom analysis, we evaluated whether melittin is absent, highly diverged, or functionally replaced. Our findings suggest venom efficacy in A. andreniformis is maintained through enzymatic synergy involving phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), apamin, and antimicrobial peptides, supporting a distributed toxin model shaped by ecological pressures.