Taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Apis, 2: Ecology of the dwarf honeybee Apis florea and A. andreniformis

The purpose of this review is to assimilate existing knowledge about the present dwarf honeybees. Apis florea Fabricius 1787 and A. andreniformis Smith 1858 are both names for dwarf honeybees. This group, Micrapis (Ashmead 1904) is most peculiar honeybees in genus Apis and is recognized as a valid species in morphological character and molecular data. The dwarf honeybees are the most common over most of tropical Asia. A. florea is an extremely widespread species, distributing from Vietnam to Middle East (Iraq and Oman), with intentional introduction in Java and Sudan. The distribution of A. andreniformis is largely restricted to Indochina and Sundaland (Malaysia and part of Indonesia at present). These honeybees have several adaptive features to the tropical environment such as small nests, small body sizes, and seasonal migration. In both species nests are consisted of single comb hanging from a small twig of tree, shrub, or creeper in dense bushes. The nest structures of both species are quite different in the midribs in the honey storage area. The dwarf honeybees queens and drones are about three times the size of workers. Genitalia and hind leg of drones and workers body color are diagnostic characters for a clear distinction between both species. The number of mating in A. florea and A. andreniformis queens were about 12 and 14 times, respectively which were found to be polyandry. The A. florea forager dances on a horizontal plane (top of the nest) and they point directly in the direction of food and water sources. Nest defensive behavior shows a strong defensive response on A. andreniformis workers, whereas an A. florea workers is a gentle nature. The dwarf honeybee queenright colonies are inhibited worker reproduction by worker policing. The queenless A. florea colony is found to be reproductive parasitism by foreign workers from other nest. The natural enemy of dwarf honeybees is known predator and parasite such as hornets, ants, wax moths, mites. birds and mammals including human. The parasitic mites Euvarroa sinhai and E. wongsirii are specifically associated with A. florea and A. andreniformis, respectively.