The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Stingless Bee <i>Meliplebeia beccarii</i> (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) and Insights into Unusual Gene Rearrangement

The stingless bee <i>Meliplebeia beccarii</i>, endemic to Ethiopia, plays a crucial ecological and economic role through pollination and high-quality honey production. However, habitat degradation and anthropogenic pressures threaten its survival. In this study, we present the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of <i>M. beccarii</i>, revealing a compact structure of 15,458 bp with 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 19 tRNAs, and two rRNAs, characterized by an A + T bias (83.9%). Unique features include the absence of <i>trnI</i>, <i>trnK</i>, and <i>trnA</i>, translocation of <i>trnQ</i> and a novel inversion in the <i>trnT</i>-<i>trnP</i> combination. These findings highlight species-specific genomic adaptations. Phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated PCGs places <i>M. beccarii</i> within the Apidae lineage, contributing to a deeper understanding of stingless bee evolution. Our results underscore the utility of mitogenomic studies in biodiversity conservation and evolutionary biology, providing foundational insights for the management and preservation of <i>M. beccarii</i>.