Apis mellifera cypria (Cyprus honey bee) is a subspecies of the Western honey bee. Its habitat is the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
| Apis mellifera cypria | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Apis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | A. m. cypria
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Apis mellifera cypria Pollmann, 1879[1]
| |
Behaviour
editA. m. cypria has been reported to be a less swarmy bee when compared to other European honey bees.[2]
In a 2008 study, the growth rate of colonies was observed to be lowest during the hottest month, while the most growth occurred during a month with temperature closer to the yearly average (or slightly above).[3]
Defense
editPapachristoforou et al found that in the presence of the predatory oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) the bees initially generate an acoustic response,[4] and if the encounter escalates, they kill the invader by asphyxiation.[5]
Taxonomy
editA separate subspecies from the other two Greek bee subspecies, A. m. macedonica and A. m. cecropia.[6] DNA analysis found its mtDNA is more closely related to A.m. anatoliaca and A. m. meda[7] and belongs to the O Lineage (Oriental branch) of Apis mellifera.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Kandemir, İ.; Meixner, Marina D.; Ozkan, Ayca; Sheppard, S.W. "Morphometric, allozymic, and mtDNA variation in honeybee (Apis mellifera cypria, Pollman 1879) populations in northern Cyprus" (PDF). Apimondia. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.527.4503. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
- ^ "Honey bee sub-species". AmericasBeekeeper. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
- ^ Παπαχριστοφόρου, Α. (2008). Defensive behaviour of the Cyprian honeybee Apis mellifera cypria against the oriental hornet Vespa orientalis (Thesis). doi:10.12681/eadd/18918. hdl:10442/hedi/18918. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
- ^ Papachristoforou, A.; Sueur, Jérôme; Rortais, A.; Angelopoulos, S.; Thrasyvoulou, A.; Arnold, G. (2008). "High frequency sounds produced by Cyprian honeybees Apis mellifera cypria when confronting their predator, the Oriental hornet Vespa orientalis" (PDF). Apidologie. 39 (4): 468. doi:10.1051/apido:2008027.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Kandemir, I.; Meixner, M. D.; Ozkan, A.; Sheppard, W. S. (2006). "Genetic characterization of honey bee (Apis mellifera cypria) populations in northern Cyprus" (PDF). Apidologie. 37 (5): 547. doi:10.1051/apido:2006029.