ARS | Publication request: MULTIVARIATE MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF APIS FLOREA IN THAILAND

Submitted to: Journal of Apicultural Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 16, 2004
Publication Date: November 15, 2004
Citation: Chaiyawong, T., Deowanish, S., Wongsiri, S., Sylvester, H.A., Rinderer, T.E., De Guzman, L.I. 2004. Multivariate Morphometric Study of Apis Florea in Thailand. Journal of Apicultural Research. 43(3):123-127.

Interpretive Summary: Morphometric analyses of body parts of the dwarf honey bee, Apis florea, in Thailand were carried out to determine if differences could be detected within this species. This was done to increase knowledge of an important pollinator and economically important insect of Thailand. The main analysis revealed that all of the examined bees comprise one group. However, other analyses showed that some characters could be used to somewhat distinguish samples from two islands. Thus, morphologically all the bees of this species in Thailand constitute one group and management of this species does not need to consider local variations. This information will assist decisions regarding management of this honey bee species in Thailand.

Technical Abstract: Morphometric analyses of Apis florea F. in Thailand were carried out in order to detect differences within this species. The nine body parts selected for analysis were: proboscis, antenna, forewing, hindwing, hind leg, the third and sixth sternites, and the third and fourth tergites. Twenty-two characters, consisting of widths, lengths or angles, were measured. Factor analysis sorted 14 characters of worker bees into four factors. Factor 1: characters associated with size, hind leg and antenna; Factor 2: length of wing venation and forewing; Factor 3: number of hamuli and venation angle 37; and Factor 4: venation angle 34. The results of factor and cluster analyses using these 22 characters revealed that the A. florea of Thailand are distributed as one group. Four characters: forewing radial cell length, metatarsus length, 3rd sternite length and antenna length; can be used to separate the A. florea of Samui and Pha-ngan Islands from the mainland samples by Student'Newman'Keuls Statistics.