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Concept
Apis dorsata
Summary
Speciesbox
| name = Giant honey bee
| image = Bidens-Apis dorsata-pollen baskets.jpg
| image_caption = Pollinating Bidens (note pollen baskets)
| image2 = Honeybee on Mimosa pudica at Kadavoor.jpg
| image2_caption = Pollinating Mimosa pudica
| genus = Apis
| parent = Apis (Megapis)
| species = dorsata
| authority = Fabricius, 1793
| range_map = Apis dorsata distribution map.svg
| range_map_alt = Map showing the range of A. dorsata
| range_map_caption = Range of A. dorsata
Apis dorsata, the rock bee or giant honey bee, is a honey bee of South and Southeast Asia. They are typically around long and nests are mainly built in exposed places far off the ground, like on tree limbs, under cliff overhangs, and under buildings. These social bees are known for their aggressive defense strategies and vicious behavior when disturbed. Though not domesticated, indigenous peoples have traditionally used this species as a source of honey and beeswax, a practice known as honey hunting.
Apis dorsata belongs to the family Apidae, which is in the class Insecta. This honeybee is most closely related to Apis mellifera, (the western honey bee) Apis cerana, and Apis florea. Apis dorsata belongs to the subgenus Megapis. There are a few hypotheses as to when Apis dorsata diverged from both Apis florea and Apis cerana, as it is unclear which divergence occurred first. Currently, the consensus hypothesis provides a family tree that claims that Apis dorsata diverged from both Apis cerana and Apis florea at the same time.
Michael S. Engel identified the following subspecies:
A. d. dorsata; (Indian giant honey bee), primarily from India
A. d. binghami Cockerell; (Indonesian giant honey bee), from Malaysia and Indonesia
A. d. breviligula Maa; (Philippine giant honey bee), from the Philippines
A. d. laboriosa Fabricius; (Himalayan giant honey bee), from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and southern China.
Recent research has removed laboriosa from inclusion within A. dorsata, as a separate species, with supporting evidence including a significant region of sympatry.
Official source
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