Apis andreniformis

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Apis andreniformis is a species of honeybee whose native habitat is the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia.

A. andreniformis was the second honeybee species to be recognized, and its biology, geographic distribution, and its specific status was recognized by many authors. However, it must be mentioned that the species was only recently seperated from Apis florea since there are sites where both A. andreniformis and A. florea live conspecifically. Both species are distributed throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, including Southeast China, India, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia (Java and Borneo), and the Philippines (Palawan).

Contents

1 Physical characteristics
2 Social characteristics
3 Parasites
4 External Links
5 References

Physical characteristics

The most significant morphological characteristic of the species is the black stripes legs, specifically on the tibia and on the dorsolateral (back and side) surface of the basitarsus. (See Arthropod leg). Additionally, the pigmentation of A. andreniformis is blackish, while that of A. florea is yellowish. Other distinguishing characteristics include a difference respective cubital indexes: A. andreniformis has an index of 6.37, and A. florea one of 2.86. Also, the proboscis of A. andreniformis has a length of 2.80 mm, while that of A. florea is 3.27 mm. This physical diference contributes to a division in the distribution of naturally occuring nectar between the two species. Finally, there are diferences in the barbs of the stinger, and in the basitarsus of the drones.

Social characteristics

A andreniformis nests in quiet forests, generally in darker areas where there is 25 to 30 percent of normal sunlight. The hive is usually made in branches of bamboo and banana plants, in shrubs, and in bushes such as coffee and tea. They can be built between 1 to 15 meters from the ground, although the average altitude is 2.5 m. The honeycomb ranges from 7 to 90 mm in size.

A. andreniformis is generally more defensive than A. florea: it is known to attack when there are disturbances 3 to 4 meters from the hive.

Parasites

The main parasites of both A. andreniformis and A. florea belong to genus Euvarroa. However, A. andreniformis is attacked by the species Euvarroa wongsirii, while Euvarroa sinhai preys on A. florea and colonies of Apis mellifera that are imported. The two species of Euvarroa have morphological and biological differences: while E. wongsirii has a triangular body shape and a length of 47 to 54 microns, E. sinhai has a more circular shape and a length of 39-40 microns.

External Links

References

Koeniger G., Koeniger N., Mardan M., Otis G.W., Wongsiri S. Comparative anatomy of male genital organs in the genus Apis. Apidologie 23 (1991) 539–552.
Oldroyd B.P., Rinderer T.E., Wongsiri S. Pollen resource partitioning by Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, Apis andreniformis, and Apis florea in Thailand. J. Apic. Res. 31 (1992) 3–7.
Rinderer T.E., Oldroyd B.P., Wongsiri S., Sylvester H.A., de Guzman L.I., Potichot S., Sheppard W.S., Buchmann S.L. Time of drone flight in four honey bee species in south-eastern. Thailand. J. Apic. Res. 32 (1993) 28–33.
Rinderer T.E., Oldroyd B.P., Wongsiri S., Kuang B., Sylvester H.A., de Guzman L.I., Kuang H., Dong X., Zhai W., Comparative nest architecture of the dwarf honey bees. J. Apic Res. 35 (1996): 19–27.
Wongsiri S., Limbipichai K., Tangkanasing P., Mardan M., Rinderer T.E., Sylvester H.A., Koeniger G., Otis G. Evidence of reproductive isolation confirms that Apis andreniformis (Smith 1858) is a separate species from sympatric Apis florea (Fabricius 1787). Apidologie 22 (1990)

47–52.

Wongsiri S., Lekprayoon C., Thapa R., Thirakupt K., Rinderer T.E., Sylvester H.A., Oldroyd B.P., Booncham U. Comparative biology of Apis andreniformis and Apis florea in Thailand. Bee World 77 (1996) 24–35.

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