Apis mellifera natrually occurs in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. It is not native to America or Australasia.
According to paleoentomologists, 80 million years ago eusociality emerged became a thing with some insects.
The Apini, inherited eusociality and some 50 million years later had progressed to achieve a form of advanced eusociality in which females have multiple mates and produce large, genetically diverse colonies: A Superorganism.
For many years there has been an argument between those who believe that Apis mellifera originated in Africa and those who believed that they came from Asia. The article on the right explores this argument further. Apis mellifera split from other in the Apini tribe between 6 and 9 million years ago. Apis mellifera split again more recently about 1 million years ago into four origin groups which can be identified genetically. They are illustrated in the mindmap below: A M O and C.
The extent of these four groups is seen on the map below from Keith Delaplane's article in the American Bee Journal 2018.
Apis mellifera further developed as influenced by the Ice Ages
According to paleoentomologists, 80 million years ago eusociality emerged became a thing with some insects.
The Apini, inherited eusociality and some 50 million years later had progressed to achieve a form of advanced eusociality in which females have multiple mates and produce large, genetically diverse colonies: A Superorganism.
For many years there has been an argument between those who believe that Apis mellifera originated in Africa and those who believed that they came from Asia. The article on the right explores this argument further. Apis mellifera split from other in the Apini tribe between 6 and 9 million years ago. Apis mellifera split again more recently about 1 million years ago into four origin groups which can be identified genetically. They are illustrated in the mindmap below: A M O and C.
The extent of these four groups is seen on the map below from Keith Delaplane's article in the American Bee Journal 2018.
Apis mellifera further developed as influenced by the Ice Ages
Apis mellifera Sub-species
Scientific Beekeeping
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Origins of Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera Sub Species
Non-Apis mellifera Honey Bees
Putting Honey Bees into Perspetcive.
Glossary
Genetics Continued
Relatedness
