Stefan Fuchs - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Stefan Fuchs

Research paper thumbnail of Unterscheidung Zwischen Bienen Verschiedenen Alters Durch Varroa Jacobsoni Oud. Und Bevorzugung Von Ammenbienen Im Sommerbienenvolk

Research paper thumbnail of The morphometric affinities of Apis cerana of the Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions of western Asia

Apidologie, 2005

A multivariate morphometric analysis of Apis cerana populations of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan ... more A multivariate morphometric analysis of Apis cerana populations of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and Pakistan and of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in India revealed two statistically distinct morphoclusters, a Hindu Kush/Kashmir group and a Himachal Pradesh group. High intercolonial variances at three localities are associated with regions of major climatic zone change, hence ecological instability. Apis cerana / honeybees / morphoclusters / western Asia

Research paper thumbnail of Schallerzeugung Im Dienst Der Verteidigung Des Bienenvolkes (Apis Cerana FABR.)

Research paper thumbnail of Schallerzeugung Im Dienst Der Verteidigung Des Bienenvolkes (Apis Cerana FABR.)

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric characterisation of the native Honeybee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, of Saudi Arabia

Zoology in the Middle East, 2014

The morphometry of native honeybees from Saudi Arabia was analysed and compared with 7 Apis melli... more The morphometry of native honeybees from Saudi Arabia was analysed and compared with 7 Apis mellifera subspecies, based on 198 colony samples from 36 locations. Twenty five standard morphological characters were evaluated, and samples were compared with seven reference honeybee subspecies (Apis mellifera carnica, A. m. ligustica, A. m. meda, A. m. syriaca, A. m. lamarckii, A. m. litorea and A. m. jemenitica) obtained from the Oberursel Data Bank (Institut für Bienenkunde, Frankfurt University, Germany). Results confirmed that samples from Saudi Arabia are very similar to samples from the subspecies A. m. jemenitica (Ruttner, 1967), previously described from Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Samples were well-separated from the other subspecies, but the distinction was less in relation to A. m. litorea. While locally kept bees were well-separated, samples from migratory beekeeping showed broader variation and were less clearly separated, indicating the influence of ingression and hybridization with introduced honeybee subspecies.

Research paper thumbnail of A scientific note on the genetic distinctness of Varroa mites on Apis mellifera L. and on Apis cerana Fabr. in North Vietnam

Research paper thumbnail of RFID tracking of sublethal effects of two neonicotinoid insecticides on the foraging behavior of Apis mellifera

PloS one, 2012

The development of insecticides requires valid risk assessment procedures to avoid causing harm t... more The development of insecticides requires valid risk assessment procedures to avoid causing harm to beneficial insects and especially to pollinators such as the honeybee Apis mellifera. In addition to testing according to current guidelines designed to detect bee mortality, tests are needed to determine possible sublethal effects interfering with the animal's vitality and behavioral performance. Several methods have been used to detect sublethal effects of different insecticides under laboratory conditions using olfactory conditioning. Furthermore, studies have been conducted on the influence insecticides have on foraging activity and homing ability which require time-consuming visual observation. We tested an experimental design using the radiofrequency identification (RFID) method to monitor the influence of sublethal doses of insecticides on individual honeybee foragers on an automated basis. With electronic readers positioned at the hive entrance and at an artificial food sou...

Research paper thumbnail of Body size and reproductive success of drones (Apis mellifera L)

Apidologie, 1997

— We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while... more — We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while large drones originated from drone cells. We used the cordovan (cd) mutant as a marker. The distribution of drone types in a drone congregation area was monitored by pheromone traps. No significant differences in temporal, horizontal and vertical distributions of large (cd) drones were found, either in comparison with large (+) or in the experiment with small (+) drones. The offspring of homozygous cordovan (cd/cd) queens which were mated during the experiment by (cd) and (+) drones was examined. We compared the ratio of (cd/cd) and (cd/+) workers to the drone ratio at time of the mating flight. Small drones had a reproductive disadvantage compared with large drones. Large (cd) drones had a lower reproductive success compared to large (+) drones.

Research paper thumbnail of Body size and reproductive success of drones (Apis mellifera L)

Apidologie, 1997

— We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while... more — We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while large drones originated from drone cells. We used the cordovan (cd) mutant as a marker. The distribution of drone types in a drone congregation area was monitored by pheromone traps. No significant differences in temporal, horizontal and vertical distributions of large (cd) drones were found, either in comparison with large (+) or in the experiment with small (+) drones. The offspring of homozygous cordovan (cd/cd) queens which were mated during the experiment by (cd) and (+) drones was examined. We compared the ratio of (cd/cd) and (cd/+) workers to the drone ratio at time of the mating flight. Small drones had a reproductive disadvantage compared with large drones. Large (cd) drones had a lower reproductive success compared to large (+) drones.

Research paper thumbnail of Spatial analysis of morphological variation in African honeybees ( Apis mellifera L.) on a continental scale

Apidologie, 2000

Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassi... more Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassing the continent's wide geographical range and environmental heterogeneity, based on 10 morphological characters measured from 268 local populations. While autocorrelation indicates a continuous large-scale decrease in similarity in general, clustering of single character correlograms suggests four distinct groups of profiles. This pattern, further supported by mapping factor scores, canonical trend surface analysis axes scores, suggests a variety of microevolutionary mechanisms acting at distinct scales in time and space in different groups of characters. Association with largescale differences in vegetation, climate and traditional subspecific classification has been analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The most important aspect is that the results support the hypothesis that traditional subspecies, at least as defined by these characters, seem to represent integrated evolutionary units well adapted to their local conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Spatial analysis of morphological variation in African honeybees ( Apis mellifera L.) on a continental scale

Apidologie, 2000

Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassi... more Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassing the continent's wide geographical range and environmental heterogeneity, based on 10 morphological characters measured from 268 local populations. While autocorrelation indicates a continuous large-scale decrease in similarity in general, clustering of single character correlograms suggests four distinct groups of profiles. This pattern, further supported by mapping factor scores, canonical trend surface analysis axes scores, suggests a variety of microevolutionary mechanisms acting at distinct scales in time and space in different groups of characters. Association with largescale differences in vegetation, climate and traditional subspecific classification has been analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The most important aspect is that the results support the hypothesis that traditional subspecies, at least as defined by these characters, seem to represent integrated evolutionary units well adapted to their local conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of A scientific note on the ITS-1 region of Apis mellifera subspecies

Research paper thumbnail of Ecoclines in the Near East along 36 ? N latitude in Apis mellifera L

Apidologie, 2000

The ideas examined and the results presented in the last unfinished manuscript of Friedrich Ruttn... more The ideas examined and the results presented in the last unfinished manuscript of Friedrich Ruttner have been further developed. Within the 6 populations of the Near East distinguishable by morphometry, the bees of Massandaran in Iran occupy an important position due to their large size. Even sea-level bees exceed the size of the bees of the elevated region of Central Iran, which seems to contradict Bergmanns' s rule. An extended study had revealed that this population, clearly belonging to the subspecies Apis mellifera meda, shows a very distinct size increase from the Caspian Sea to the northern slope of the Elbrus Mountains, rising to 2 200 m in elevation. A similar but less pronounced ecocline with a marked increase in size can be found reaching up from the Mediterranean coast to the elevated Central Iranian region. The general pattern within A. m. meda in the region along 36°N latitude thus generally confirms Bergmann's rule, thus providing a fine example of an ecoclinal structure. However, size differences between the extremes, i.e., the Mediterranean and the coast of the Caspian Sea remain marked, which indicates an additional genetic component linked to a different history of the populations. This might prove to be an interesting aspect, as the area covered by A. meda is suspected to have played a major role in the evolution of A. mellifera.

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric diversity of Apis cerana Fabr. within the Philippines

Apidologie, 2000

counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginn... more counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginning. Early taxonomists like Maa [11] had split up the eastern cavitynesting bees into 11 species and several subspecies. Based on groups generated by

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric diversity of Apis cerana Fabr. within the Philippines

Apidologie, 2000

counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginn... more counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginning. Early taxonomists like Maa [11] had split up the eastern cavitynesting bees into 11 species and several subspecies. Based on groups generated by

Research paper thumbnail of An adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apis )

Apidologie, 2008

The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorde... more The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorded. The vein arises from the posterior quarter of the second submarginal cell, on the apical surface of the 2rs-m crossvein. The homology of this vein is discussed and its presence broadly compared across Hymenoptera so as to establish its correct identity. Based on the overall homology of hymenopteran wing venation it is concluded that this is a reacquisition the vein "Rs 2 " and we accordingly tentatively term it "aRs 2 ". The aRs 2 was found in both Apis cerana Fabricius and A. mellifera Linnaeus at moderate frequencies, although it predominantly occurs in northeast Asian populations of the former. Species of the giant honey bees (Megapis) and dwarf honey bees (Micrapis) were found to lack the vein entirely, while the vein was found at low levels in other Asian lineages (Apis s.str.). The predilection to possess the vein appears to be a trait supporting the cavity-nesting honey bee clade (Apis s.str.). comparative morphology / Apini / wing venation / homology / Apis

Research paper thumbnail of An adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apis )

Apidologie, 2008

The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorde... more The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorded. The vein arises from the posterior quarter of the second submarginal cell, on the apical surface of the 2rs-m crossvein. The homology of this vein is discussed and its presence broadly compared across Hymenoptera so as to establish its correct identity. Based on the overall homology of hymenopteran wing venation it is concluded that this is a reacquisition the vein "Rs 2 " and we accordingly tentatively term it "aRs 2 ". The aRs 2 was found in both Apis cerana Fabricius and A. mellifera Linnaeus at moderate frequencies, although it predominantly occurs in northeast Asian populations of the former. Species of the giant honey bees (Megapis) and dwarf honey bees (Micrapis) were found to lack the vein entirely, while the vein was found at low levels in other Asian lineages (Apis s.str.). The predilection to possess the vein appears to be a trait supporting the cavity-nesting honey bee clade (Apis s.str.). comparative morphology / Apini / wing venation / homology / Apis

Research paper thumbnail of Morphological characterization ofApis ceranain the Yunnan Province of China

Apidologie, 2003

Morphological features of Apis cerana Fabr. in Yunnan Province of China were studied using morpho... more Morphological features of Apis cerana Fabr. in Yunnan Province of China were studied using morphometrical methods. Samples of A. cerana were collected from feral colonies in 14 locations of Yunnan Province, covering the main ecological regions. 38 standard morphometric characters recommended by Ruttner et al. (Apidologie 9, 363-381, 1978) were measured. The data were statistically analysed by factor analysis, discriminant analysis, and cluster analysis and compared to samples from the Oberursel data bank from Beijing,

Research paper thumbnail of Geographic distribution of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera) reflects niche characteristics of ancestral African subspecies

Natureza & Conservação, 2012

The introduction of the Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) in the New World is rep... more The introduction of the Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) in the New World is reported as one of the most successful exotic species invasion ever known. Here, we analyzed this invasion process through niche modeling approach, comparing the performance of modeling A. m. scutellata with other African subspecies distributions, projected into the New World. We applied the Genetic Algorithm for Rule Set Production (GARP) on a dataset of the original distribution of the subspecies in Africa. Only data from A. m. scutellata and A. m. jemenitica generated projected distributions in the Americas that resemble closely the current distribution of Africanized bees. These results suggest that the current distribution of Africanized honeybees in the New World to a great extent reflects niche characteristics from the subspecies that was originally introduced, reflecting a niche conservatism process.

Research paper thumbnail of Multivariate morphometric analysis of Apis cerana of southern mainland Asia

Apidologie, 2005

Morphometric analyses of Apis cerana workers from 123 localities in oceanic Asia were made on the... more Morphometric analyses of Apis cerana workers from 123 localities in oceanic Asia were made on the whole oceanic group, within specific island systems, and specific mainland-oceanic island "interfaces". Principal component analysis of the total oceanic database yielded two distinct morphoclusters: (1) the bees of Japan and morphocluster and (2) the bees of all the other islands. Discriminant and hierarchical cluster analyses showed overlapping regional clusters in the latter: 2.1 the bees of the Philippines (except Palawan) and some Indonesia, 2.2 bees of Palawan, Malaysian Borneo, Kalimantan, Sumatera and some Sulawesi (Indonesia), and 2.3 most of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Hainan (China) and Sri Lanka. Significant differences between the means of the four groups were demonstrated using Wilks' lambda statistic. The Mahalanobis distances among the honeybee samples are consistent with cyclical, geological rises and falls of sea level between present and Pleistocene land areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Unterscheidung Zwischen Bienen Verschiedenen Alters Durch Varroa Jacobsoni Oud. Und Bevorzugung Von Ammenbienen Im Sommerbienenvolk

Research paper thumbnail of The morphometric affinities of Apis cerana of the Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions of western Asia

Apidologie, 2005

A multivariate morphometric analysis of Apis cerana populations of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan ... more A multivariate morphometric analysis of Apis cerana populations of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and Pakistan and of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in India revealed two statistically distinct morphoclusters, a Hindu Kush/Kashmir group and a Himachal Pradesh group. High intercolonial variances at three localities are associated with regions of major climatic zone change, hence ecological instability. Apis cerana / honeybees / morphoclusters / western Asia

Research paper thumbnail of Schallerzeugung Im Dienst Der Verteidigung Des Bienenvolkes (Apis Cerana FABR.)

Research paper thumbnail of Schallerzeugung Im Dienst Der Verteidigung Des Bienenvolkes (Apis Cerana FABR.)

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric characterisation of the native Honeybee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, of Saudi Arabia

Zoology in the Middle East, 2014

The morphometry of native honeybees from Saudi Arabia was analysed and compared with 7 Apis melli... more The morphometry of native honeybees from Saudi Arabia was analysed and compared with 7 Apis mellifera subspecies, based on 198 colony samples from 36 locations. Twenty five standard morphological characters were evaluated, and samples were compared with seven reference honeybee subspecies (Apis mellifera carnica, A. m. ligustica, A. m. meda, A. m. syriaca, A. m. lamarckii, A. m. litorea and A. m. jemenitica) obtained from the Oberursel Data Bank (Institut für Bienenkunde, Frankfurt University, Germany). Results confirmed that samples from Saudi Arabia are very similar to samples from the subspecies A. m. jemenitica (Ruttner, 1967), previously described from Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Samples were well-separated from the other subspecies, but the distinction was less in relation to A. m. litorea. While locally kept bees were well-separated, samples from migratory beekeeping showed broader variation and were less clearly separated, indicating the influence of ingression and hybridization with introduced honeybee subspecies.

Research paper thumbnail of A scientific note on the genetic distinctness of Varroa mites on Apis mellifera L. and on Apis cerana Fabr. in North Vietnam

Research paper thumbnail of RFID tracking of sublethal effects of two neonicotinoid insecticides on the foraging behavior of Apis mellifera

PloS one, 2012

The development of insecticides requires valid risk assessment procedures to avoid causing harm t... more The development of insecticides requires valid risk assessment procedures to avoid causing harm to beneficial insects and especially to pollinators such as the honeybee Apis mellifera. In addition to testing according to current guidelines designed to detect bee mortality, tests are needed to determine possible sublethal effects interfering with the animal's vitality and behavioral performance. Several methods have been used to detect sublethal effects of different insecticides under laboratory conditions using olfactory conditioning. Furthermore, studies have been conducted on the influence insecticides have on foraging activity and homing ability which require time-consuming visual observation. We tested an experimental design using the radiofrequency identification (RFID) method to monitor the influence of sublethal doses of insecticides on individual honeybee foragers on an automated basis. With electronic readers positioned at the hive entrance and at an artificial food sou...

Research paper thumbnail of Body size and reproductive success of drones (Apis mellifera L)

Apidologie, 1997

— We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while... more — We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while large drones originated from drone cells. We used the cordovan (cd) mutant as a marker. The distribution of drone types in a drone congregation area was monitored by pheromone traps. No significant differences in temporal, horizontal and vertical distributions of large (cd) drones were found, either in comparison with large (+) or in the experiment with small (+) drones. The offspring of homozygous cordovan (cd/cd) queens which were mated during the experiment by (cd) and (+) drones was examined. We compared the ratio of (cd/cd) and (cd/+) workers to the drone ratio at time of the mating flight. Small drones had a reproductive disadvantage compared with large drones. Large (cd) drones had a lower reproductive success compared to large (+) drones.

Research paper thumbnail of Body size and reproductive success of drones (Apis mellifera L)

Apidologie, 1997

— We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while... more — We compared drones of different body size. Small drones were reared in worker cells while large drones originated from drone cells. We used the cordovan (cd) mutant as a marker. The distribution of drone types in a drone congregation area was monitored by pheromone traps. No significant differences in temporal, horizontal and vertical distributions of large (cd) drones were found, either in comparison with large (+) or in the experiment with small (+) drones. The offspring of homozygous cordovan (cd/cd) queens which were mated during the experiment by (cd) and (+) drones was examined. We compared the ratio of (cd/cd) and (cd/+) workers to the drone ratio at time of the mating flight. Small drones had a reproductive disadvantage compared with large drones. Large (cd) drones had a lower reproductive success compared to large (+) drones.

Research paper thumbnail of Spatial analysis of morphological variation in African honeybees ( Apis mellifera L.) on a continental scale

Apidologie, 2000

Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassi... more Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassing the continent's wide geographical range and environmental heterogeneity, based on 10 morphological characters measured from 268 local populations. While autocorrelation indicates a continuous large-scale decrease in similarity in general, clustering of single character correlograms suggests four distinct groups of profiles. This pattern, further supported by mapping factor scores, canonical trend surface analysis axes scores, suggests a variety of microevolutionary mechanisms acting at distinct scales in time and space in different groups of characters. Association with largescale differences in vegetation, climate and traditional subspecific classification has been analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The most important aspect is that the results support the hypothesis that traditional subspecies, at least as defined by these characters, seem to represent integrated evolutionary units well adapted to their local conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Spatial analysis of morphological variation in African honeybees ( Apis mellifera L.) on a continental scale

Apidologie, 2000

Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassi... more Population differentiation of African honeybees has been analysed in a spatial context encompassing the continent's wide geographical range and environmental heterogeneity, based on 10 morphological characters measured from 268 local populations. While autocorrelation indicates a continuous large-scale decrease in similarity in general, clustering of single character correlograms suggests four distinct groups of profiles. This pattern, further supported by mapping factor scores, canonical trend surface analysis axes scores, suggests a variety of microevolutionary mechanisms acting at distinct scales in time and space in different groups of characters. Association with largescale differences in vegetation, climate and traditional subspecific classification has been analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The most important aspect is that the results support the hypothesis that traditional subspecies, at least as defined by these characters, seem to represent integrated evolutionary units well adapted to their local conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of A scientific note on the ITS-1 region of Apis mellifera subspecies

Research paper thumbnail of Ecoclines in the Near East along 36 ? N latitude in Apis mellifera L

Apidologie, 2000

The ideas examined and the results presented in the last unfinished manuscript of Friedrich Ruttn... more The ideas examined and the results presented in the last unfinished manuscript of Friedrich Ruttner have been further developed. Within the 6 populations of the Near East distinguishable by morphometry, the bees of Massandaran in Iran occupy an important position due to their large size. Even sea-level bees exceed the size of the bees of the elevated region of Central Iran, which seems to contradict Bergmanns' s rule. An extended study had revealed that this population, clearly belonging to the subspecies Apis mellifera meda, shows a very distinct size increase from the Caspian Sea to the northern slope of the Elbrus Mountains, rising to 2 200 m in elevation. A similar but less pronounced ecocline with a marked increase in size can be found reaching up from the Mediterranean coast to the elevated Central Iranian region. The general pattern within A. m. meda in the region along 36°N latitude thus generally confirms Bergmann's rule, thus providing a fine example of an ecoclinal structure. However, size differences between the extremes, i.e., the Mediterranean and the coast of the Caspian Sea remain marked, which indicates an additional genetic component linked to a different history of the populations. This might prove to be an interesting aspect, as the area covered by A. meda is suspected to have played a major role in the evolution of A. mellifera.

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric diversity of Apis cerana Fabr. within the Philippines

Apidologie, 2000

counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginn... more counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginning. Early taxonomists like Maa [11] had split up the eastern cavitynesting bees into 11 species and several subspecies. Based on groups generated by

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric diversity of Apis cerana Fabr. within the Philippines

Apidologie, 2000

counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginn... more counterpart, A. mellifera L., the understanding of its taxonomy and biology is only in the beginning. Early taxonomists like Maa [11] had split up the eastern cavitynesting bees into 11 species and several subspecies. Based on groups generated by

Research paper thumbnail of An adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apis )

Apidologie, 2008

The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorde... more The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorded. The vein arises from the posterior quarter of the second submarginal cell, on the apical surface of the 2rs-m crossvein. The homology of this vein is discussed and its presence broadly compared across Hymenoptera so as to establish its correct identity. Based on the overall homology of hymenopteran wing venation it is concluded that this is a reacquisition the vein "Rs 2 " and we accordingly tentatively term it "aRs 2 ". The aRs 2 was found in both Apis cerana Fabricius and A. mellifera Linnaeus at moderate frequencies, although it predominantly occurs in northeast Asian populations of the former. Species of the giant honey bees (Megapis) and dwarf honey bees (Micrapis) were found to lack the vein entirely, while the vein was found at low levels in other Asian lineages (Apis s.str.). The predilection to possess the vein appears to be a trait supporting the cavity-nesting honey bee clade (Apis s.str.). comparative morphology / Apini / wing venation / homology / Apis

Research paper thumbnail of An adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apis )

Apidologie, 2008

The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorde... more The presence of an adventitious distal abscissa in the forewing venation of honey bees is recorded. The vein arises from the posterior quarter of the second submarginal cell, on the apical surface of the 2rs-m crossvein. The homology of this vein is discussed and its presence broadly compared across Hymenoptera so as to establish its correct identity. Based on the overall homology of hymenopteran wing venation it is concluded that this is a reacquisition the vein "Rs 2 " and we accordingly tentatively term it "aRs 2 ". The aRs 2 was found in both Apis cerana Fabricius and A. mellifera Linnaeus at moderate frequencies, although it predominantly occurs in northeast Asian populations of the former. Species of the giant honey bees (Megapis) and dwarf honey bees (Micrapis) were found to lack the vein entirely, while the vein was found at low levels in other Asian lineages (Apis s.str.). The predilection to possess the vein appears to be a trait supporting the cavity-nesting honey bee clade (Apis s.str.). comparative morphology / Apini / wing venation / homology / Apis

Research paper thumbnail of Morphological characterization ofApis ceranain the Yunnan Province of China

Apidologie, 2003

Morphological features of Apis cerana Fabr. in Yunnan Province of China were studied using morpho... more Morphological features of Apis cerana Fabr. in Yunnan Province of China were studied using morphometrical methods. Samples of A. cerana were collected from feral colonies in 14 locations of Yunnan Province, covering the main ecological regions. 38 standard morphometric characters recommended by Ruttner et al. (Apidologie 9, 363-381, 1978) were measured. The data were statistically analysed by factor analysis, discriminant analysis, and cluster analysis and compared to samples from the Oberursel data bank from Beijing,

Research paper thumbnail of Geographic distribution of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera) reflects niche characteristics of ancestral African subspecies

Natureza & Conservação, 2012

The introduction of the Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) in the New World is rep... more The introduction of the Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) in the New World is reported as one of the most successful exotic species invasion ever known. Here, we analyzed this invasion process through niche modeling approach, comparing the performance of modeling A. m. scutellata with other African subspecies distributions, projected into the New World. We applied the Genetic Algorithm for Rule Set Production (GARP) on a dataset of the original distribution of the subspecies in Africa. Only data from A. m. scutellata and A. m. jemenitica generated projected distributions in the Americas that resemble closely the current distribution of Africanized bees. These results suggest that the current distribution of Africanized honeybees in the New World to a great extent reflects niche characteristics from the subspecies that was originally introduced, reflecting a niche conservatism process.

Research paper thumbnail of Multivariate morphometric analysis of Apis cerana of southern mainland Asia

Apidologie, 2005

Morphometric analyses of Apis cerana workers from 123 localities in oceanic Asia were made on the... more Morphometric analyses of Apis cerana workers from 123 localities in oceanic Asia were made on the whole oceanic group, within specific island systems, and specific mainland-oceanic island "interfaces". Principal component analysis of the total oceanic database yielded two distinct morphoclusters: (1) the bees of Japan and morphocluster and (2) the bees of all the other islands. Discriminant and hierarchical cluster analyses showed overlapping regional clusters in the latter: 2.1 the bees of the Philippines (except Palawan) and some Indonesia, 2.2 bees of Palawan, Malaysian Borneo, Kalimantan, Sumatera and some Sulawesi (Indonesia), and 2.3 most of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Hainan (China) and Sri Lanka. Significant differences between the means of the four groups were demonstrated using Wilks' lambda statistic. The Mahalanobis distances among the honeybee samples are consistent with cyclical, geological rises and falls of sea level between present and Pleistocene land areas.