Species and Subspecies of Honey Bee

Question 1

definition of a species by ernest mayr

Answer 1

A group of individuals that interbreed and produce fertile offspring and is reproductively isolated (physical or reproductive barriers) from other such groups

Question 2

how many subspecies of bees are there? what percent are social? How many highly social groups?

Answer 2

20,000
10%
2: stingless and honey bees (genus apis)

Question 3

Difference between honey bees and bumble bees

Answer 3

Live in colonies during warm months, then leave and burrow in the winter. In the spring, they start their own colonies and lay eggs

Question 4

What country do the genus apis have the greatest diversity?

Answer 4

India

Question 5

Name four species within the genus apis

Answer 5

Apis Mellifera - western honey bee
Apis Cerana- eastern honey bee
Apis Dorsata- giant honey bee
Apis Florea- dwarf honey bee

Question 6

Apis mellifera vs cerana colony sizes

Answer 6

mellifera- 50k
cerana- 10-12k

Question 7

Characteristics of apis cerana

Answer 7

• eastern honey bee
• slightly smaller than mellifera
• smaller colonies
• very productive
• similar nests to mellifera

Question 8

Characteristics of Apis dorsata (giant honey bee)

Answer 8

• twice as large as mellifera (bigger than their queen)
• very productive/defensive
• found in Asia
• not manageable/domesticated
• honey and wax taken by honey hunters
• many nests in the same tree, large single combs in trees/cliffs, exposed nests
• migrate–> build nests in two different areas
• 2x the poison

Question 9

Characteristics of Apis Florea (Dwarf HB)

Answer 9

• nest on small single combs in trees and bushes
  -exposed nests
• honey and wax taken by honey hunters

Question 10

A. mellifera spread throughout…

Answer 10

middle east, Europe and Africa

Question 11

what are the 3 subspecies that the 20 races of apis mellifera are divided into

Answer 11

european, oriental and african

Question 12

Italian (apis mellifera ligustica): origin

Answer 12

italian peninsula

Question 13

What is the most widespread subspecies of apis mellifera

Answer 13

italian: apis mellifera ligustica

Question 14

Why are italian bees favoured by beekeepers?

Answer 14

• due to visual appeal- yellow with black or brown bands
• fast spring buildup
  -populous colonies
• good honey producers
• overwinter well
• low tendency to swam
• acceptable temperament
• resistant to foulbrood

Question 15

Name two negative characteristics of italians

Answer 15

require large food reserves (bc large colonies)
tendency to rob

Question 16

Ontario (carniolan bees) origin- apis mellifera carnica

Answer 16

austria and the balkans

Question 17

positive characteristics of carnolian bees

Answer 17

fast spring buildup
good honey production
efficient use of food
overwinter well
gentle and quiet
resistant to nosema disease and tracheal mites

Question 18

2 Negative characteristics of carnolian bees

Answer 18

high tendency to swarm
susceptible to chalkbrood (larval fungus)

Question 19

german/black bees origin

Answer 19

northern europe

Question 20

what is the least preferred race

Answer 20

german/black bees

Question 21

positive characteristics of german bees

Answer 21

• good honey production
• efficient food usage
• overwinter well

Question 22

negative characteristics of German bees

Answer 22

• defensive & nervous
• run on the hive
• sting more frequently
• slow spring buildup
• susceptible to foulbrood

Question 23

4 Genotypes

Answer 23

Buckfast
Eastern Russian
Africanized
Mongrel

Question 24

Buckfast bees

Answer 24

gentle
resistant to tracheal mites

Question 25

eastern russian

Answer 25

imported from russia resistant to mites showing promise

Question 26

Africanized bees

Answer 26

South Africa and tanzania brought to brazil can be aggressive

Question 27

Mongrel

Answer 27

- captured in wild, rehomed in bee boxes - tend to collect most propolis - can be moderately aggressive - independent