Morphometric identification of honey bee subspecies reveals a high proportion of hybrids within a Mediterranean protected area

Abstract

The importance of natural protected areas for the preservation of locally adapted subspecies (or local genotype) of honey bees has been recently emphasized in the literature. In western Europe, initiatives have emerged to protect the native subspecies i.e., the Western European dark bee, Apis mellifera mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Here, we investigated the honey bee subspecies diversity in a Mediterranean protected area, Calanques National Park, near Marseille, France. We found that the population of honey bees is mainly composed of hybrids between Apis mellifera mellifera and Apis mellifera intermissa. These hybrids might have a better resistance to the Varroa mite and a better adaptation to arid Mediterranean climate. Before promoting the native honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera mellifera, it appears essential to identify honey bee subspecies used by beekeepers in protected areas.

Keywords:

• honey bee subspecies
• Apis mellifera
• beekeeping
• Mediterranean protected area
• conservation programs

Acknowledgments

We thank M. Berenger, M. Hamon, A. Bideau, M. Panchot, C. Scagliola and C. Mutillod who participated in bee samplings in the field. We finally thank John Thompson for his help about information of honey bee subspecies in others French National Parks.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We are thankful to Calanques National Park, the Observatoire Hommes-Milieux Littoral Méditerranéen (OHM-Litt.med.) for the financial support. We are also grateful to Calanques National Park and its territory owners for the field access permission.