Cerana Japonica Research Articles

Temperature as a causative factor in the seasonal colour dimorphism of Apis cerana japonica workers

Temperature as a causative factor in the seasonal colour dimorphism of Apis cerana japonica workers

Heat production by balling in the Japanese honeybee,Apis cerana japonica as a defensive behavior against the hornet,Vespa simillima xanthoptera (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

As an effective counterattack strategy against predacious hornets, especiallyVespa simillima xanthoptera, workers ofApis cerana japonica showed a distinct balling reaction, usually involving 180–300 bees. This produced heat for as long as 20 min, giving rise to temperatures inside the ball higher than 46°C, which is lethal to the hornet but not to the bees.

The Diploid Drone ofApis Cerana Japonicaand its Chromosomes

SummaryDiploid drones were produced from a sibling-mated queen of A. cerana japonica and reared in an incubator on royal jelly from A. mellifera. The haploid chromosome complement of A. cerana japonica consisted of 8 metacentrics and 8 submetacentrics. The 32 chromosomes of diploid drones are shown in a photomicrograph. Sex determination in A. c. japonica is similar to that in A. mellifera.