The buzz began in Asia

Introduction

Honeybees may have originated in Asia and not in Africa as was earlier believed. This has been suggested in the first ever global analysis of genome variation in honeybees. The bee is crucial to the survival of humans. A third of our fruit and vegetables depend on pollination by bees and other insects. But honeybee colonies are declining due to pollution, climate change and diseases. Data on the genetic evolution of the bee could help in understanding how they adapted to different environments. 

Source

Down To Earth, September 2014