Morphometric Analysis Of Apis Cerana Cerana Populations In The Loess Plateau Of China

Morphometric variation and characteristics of Apis cerana cerana populations from the Loess Plateau were studied.A total of 1380 worker bees of 21 samples were collected and 37 morphometric characters were measured,which were statistically analyzed by discriminant function analyses and cluster analysis,principal component analysis and analysis of variance.The research results showed that all the A.c.cerana from Loess Plateau could be divided into two populations by the morphometrics.The two populations showed significant variation in most of the length characters such as tergum,forewing,hairs,hind leg.Both populations tend to be subdivided further.(1)Populations of eastern Loess PlateauThe honeybees distributed in eastern Loess Plateau were significantly smaller in size,lighter in color and with shorter hairs.The honeybees of Jingbian and Zizhou in Yulin region showed smaller size and long length of cover hairs on tergite five when compared with other samples in eastern Loess Plateau.And also significant difference was detected between Jingbian and Zizhou.The honeybee of Xinzhou showed larger cubital index and length of cover hairs on tergite 5.Although the honeybee of Jingbian,Zizhou,Xinzhou showed obvious differentiation compared with other samples,honeybees that distributed in marginal population were not subdivided into new populations.(2)Population of western Loess PlateauThe honeybees from western Loess Plateau showed significantly larger size of body,darker body color,longer hairs,although great variation were detected.The honeybees of Guomiao,Heshangpu,Longde,Huanghua,Huanglong showed larger size of body which did not showed obvious differentiation.