Apis mellifera cypria

Apis mellifera cypria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Apis
Species: A. mellifera
Subspecies: A. m. cypria
Trinomial name
Apis mellifera cypria

Apis mellifera cypria is a mediterranean bee sub-species of the European honey bee species. Known commonly as the Cyprus honey bee, otherwise as A. m. cypria Pollmann 1879 [1]

Behaviour

This bee tends not to swarm.[2][3]

In a 2008 study, the growth rate of colonies was observed to be at the least during the hottest month, while the most growth occurred during a month with temperature closer to the yearly average (or slightly above).[4][5]

Defense

Papachristoforou et al found that in the presence of the predatory oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) the bees initially generate an acoustic response,[6] further reacting to eliminate the insect by asphyxiation.[7]

Taxonomy

A genetically separate group from the Greek bee sub-species,macedonica and cecropia (Bouga et al. 2005),[8] is (mtD.N.A) related to A.m.Anatoliaca and meda. (Kandemir et al. 2005).[9]

By morphometric analysis [10] the sub-species is determined as belonging to the Oriental branch of the Apis genus.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 I. Kandemir, M.D.Meixner, A.Ozkan, S.W.Sheppard (references ten studies) [(apimondia.com website) MORPHOMETRIC, ALLOZYMIC AND MTDNA VARIATION IN HONETBEE (APIS MELLIFERA CYPRIA POLLMANN 1879) IN NORTHERN CYPRUS] Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Standing Commission of Bee Biology APIMONDIA JOURNAL. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  2. ↑ AmericasBeekeeper website [Retrieved 2011-12-21] → website References Retrieved 2012-02-08
  3. ↑ Wimbledonbeekeepers - Glossary [Retrieved 2011-12-21] → Wimbledon Beekeepers Association website Retrieved 2012-02-08
  4. ↑ cyprusisland.com website [Retrieved 2011-12-21]
  5. ↑ Παπαχριστοφόρου, Α. (2008) phdtheses.ekt.gr website defensive behaviour of the cyprian honeybee apis melifera cypria against the oriental hornet vespa orientalis [Retrieved 2011-12-21]
  6. ↑ Papachristoforou, A.; Sueur, Jérôme; Rortais, A.; Angelopoulos, S.; Thrasyvoulou, A.; Arnold, G. (2008). "High frequency sounds produced by Cyprian honeybeesApis mellifera cypriawhen confronting their predator, the Oriental hornetVespa orientalis". Apidologie 39 (4): 468. doi:10.1051/apido:2008027.
  7. ↑ Papachristoforou, A.; Rortais, A.; Zafeiridou, G.; Theophilidis, G.; Garnery, L.; Thrasyvoulou, A.; Arnold, G. (2007). "Smothered to death: Hornets asphyxiated by honeybees". Current Biology 17 (18): R795–6. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.07.033. PMID 17878045.
  8. ↑ Bouga, M.; Kilias, G.; Harizanis, P. C.; Papasotiropoulos, V.; Alahiotis, S. (2005). "Allozyme Variability and Phylogenetic Relationships in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apis mellifera) Populations from Greece and Cyprus". Biochemical Genetics 43 (9–10): 471–83. doi:10.1007/s10528-005-8163-2. PMID 16341763.
  9. ↑ Kandemir, I.; Meixner, M. D.; Ozkan, A.; Sheppard, W. S. (2006). "Genetic characterization of honey bee (Apis mellifera cypria) populations in northern Cyprus". Apidologie 37 (5): 547. doi:10.1051/apido:2006029.
  10. ↑ School of Informatics within the City University (London) plus The School of Life sciences at the University of Sussex Centre for Advanced Microscopy [Retrieved 2011-12-21]
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