Apis cerana

The Apis cerana is also called Asian honey bee or Asiatic honey bee. It is native to the southeast, south and east Asia.

What is “Sympatry” that exists in Apis cerana?

Two species are considered sympatric if they exist in the same geographic area and encounter each other frequently. In simple terms, a species become two different species inhabiting the same region.

How are Apis cerana identified?

The males of the Asian honey bees are identified by long hairs that cover the eyes. These hairs help in the collection of pollen grains. They are black in colour with yellow stripes in the abdomen. There are distinctions in queen bees, worker bees and drones. The worker bees are characterized by pollen press in the back legs. They also have a stinger. The queen bees are larger than the worker bees. The drones are the males that lack stinger and are defined by larger eyes.

Where are Asian honey bees found in the world?

The Asian honey bees are spread in the tropical rain forests, mid – latitude steppes, wet – dry tropical savannas, dry mid – latitude grasslands, taigas and moist deciduous forests. Their occurrence extend from Primorsky Krai in Russia to eastern Indonesia. They were deliberately introduced in Australia in 1970s.

What is Nest Thermoregulation observed in Asian Honey bees?

The Apis cerana maintains hive temperature in the range of 33 to 35 degrees Celsius even when the ambient temperature varies between 12 and 36 degrees Celsius. This is called nest thermoregulation in Asian honey bees. During hot weather, the worker honey bees cluster outside the nest and fan their wings. Through this they remove excess heat and moisture from the nest. The nest thermoregulation is also used as defence system. When the bee hive of the Asian honey bees is attacked by hornets, the worker bees surround the hornet and vibrate their flight muscles till the temperature is increased to 47 degrees Celsius. This heats the hornet to death.

What is waggle dance in Apis cerana?

The waggle dance is the dance performed by the worker bees inside the hive. They perform the dance when a rich source of pollen grains or nectar is discovered. During the dance, the worker bees enact their recent journey towards the nectar rich source.

What is Antipredator pipes seen in Apis cerana?

Usually, bees make sounds or alarm signals to defend themselves against the predators. These alarm signals are similar to the mammalian alarm signals. In November 2021, it was discovered that the Asian Honey bees use antipredator pipes to alert their fellow mates. The antipredator pipes are different from the usual sounds observed in honey bees. The antipredator pipes include stop signals and hisses. These signals are harsh, irregular. They are similar to panic calls and fear screams.