Eidonomy of Apis mellifera Workers and Drones in Apiaries

Abstract

In modern ecosystems, the increasing anthropogenic load, the absence or an insufficient number of scientifically based integrated programs and measures for the reproduction and distribution of local bee populations, as well as the preservation of their habitat territories; unsystematic hybridization leads to the transformation of the quantitative and qualitative composition of bees in the regions. In connection with the presented facts, it is obvious that complex morphological studies of honey bees are becoming particularly relevant at the present stage of beekeeping development, in order to identify the preservation of populations and the potential for the development of beekeeping. It was found that only in 10 districts is the predominant number of worker bees of the central Russian subspecies. The evaluation of drone morphotypes showed that only 7 districts with a predominant number of the Central Russian subspecies (morphotypes: O and Is) can be distinguished: Volzhsky, Isaklinsky, Kinel Cherkassky, Koshkinsky, Krasnoarmeysky, Pokhvistnevsky, and Sergievsky districts. Data on the assessment of worker bees in the forest steppe zone allowed us to identify 8 districts where they more closely corresponded to the central Russian subspecies: Volzhsky, Syzran, Koshkinsky, Sergievsky, Chelno-Vershinsky, Kamyshlinsky, Pokhvistnevsky, and Isaklinsky districts. Assessment of morphotypic structure and morphometric features revealed a tendency to change the taxonomic affiliation of native bees. These changes are the result of the artificial relocation of honey bees of various geographical origins to the territory of the samara region. The discovery of drones of the central Russian subspecies suggests the presence of purebred queens, which is some potential for restoring the historically established population structure of bees in the region by gradually creating areas and zones of purebred breeding.