Apis mellifera unicolor
| Apis mellifera unicolor | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Apis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | A. m. unicolor
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Apis mellifera unicolor Latreille 1804[1]
| |
Apis mellifera unicoloris known by thecommon nameof theMadagascar honey bee,sometimes also called the Malagasy honey bee (Malagasyis a French-derived word meaning 'from Madagascar'). It isendemicto the island ofMadagascar.[2]
In 2015 DNA analysis was conducted on Madagascar finding that theA. m. unicoloraccounted for 99.6% of the DNA sampled. Two ecotypes were identified, one from the highlands of theHauts Plateaux,and the second from the coastal areas. In 2010 theVarroa destructormite arrived in Madagascar and concerns had been raised as to the affect the mite may have had on the genetic diversity of theA. m. unicoloron the island.[3]
TheA. m. unicolorwas identified as belonging to the A Lineage of honey bees, suggesting that the subspecies "might probably result from ancestral introductions to the island", analysis of the mitochondrial and nuclear genetic diversity indicated a recent divergence of possibly 1million years ago, from other African honey bees as opposed to 6 million years ago, as Madagascar split from the African continent 135 million years ago this suggests a human introduction.[3]
Overall when compared to otherApis melliferatheir genetic diversity was very low, but the authors attributed this more likely to be a combination of island isolation preventing introgression with other subspecies, the geography of the island limiting the movement of bees around the island and the high deforestation occurring over the past 1400 years, which has accelerated in the past 50 years.[3]
TheA. m. unicolorhas been reported to be very docile,Friedrich Ruttnerin 1988 commenting that it was "one of the most gentle honeybees in the world".[3]
References
[edit]- ^Michael S Engel (1999)."The taxonomy of recent and fossil honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Apis)".Journal of Hymenoptera Research.8(2): 180.Retrieved30 January2023.
- ^Michael S Engel (1999)."The taxonomy of recent and fossil honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Apis)".Journal of Hymenoptera Research.8(2): 180.Retrieved30 January2023.
- ^abcdRasolofoarivao, H.; Clémencet, J.; Techer, M. A.; Ravaomanarivo, L. H. R.; Reynaud, B.; Delatte, H. (2015)."Genetic diversity of the endemic honeybee: Apis mellifera unicolor (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Madagascar".Apidologie.46(6): 735–747.doi:10.1007/s13592-015-0362-1.S2CID256203051.Retrieved31 January2023.