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Variations in races of the honeybee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

S.K. Raina  and
D.M. Kimbu
S.K. Raina*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
D.M. Kimbu
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
*
*: E-mail: sraina@icipe.org
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Abstract

The three races of the honeybee Apis mellifera Linnaeus in Kenya (A. m. scutellata, A. m. monticola and A. m. litorea) differ from each other with respect to size, cubital index and abdominal colour banding pattern. These differences were used to assess the extent of interbreeding and hybridization between the races. This was verified on the basis of selected morphometric traits. Bee samples were collected from traditional log hives in seven geographical locations throughout Kenya ranging from lowland Mombasa in the coastal region to the highland Kinangop ranges. The length and width of the right forewing, length of proboscis, right antenna and right hindleg were measured, and the cubital index was computed for each specimen. The bees were classified according to size and colour banding pattern. Data analysis indicated there was hybridization among the three races of A. mellifera in Kenya due to swarming and migration under seasonal pressure.

Keywords

honeybee racesmorphometricscubital indexintermixinghybridizationKenya
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , December 2005 , pp. 281 - 291
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2005

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