Geographical races of Apis cerana Fabricius in China and their distribution. Review of recent Chinese publications and a preliminary statistical analysis

Abstract

The authors have searched the Chinese literature for information on the geographical races of Apis cerana Fabricius and their distribution in China, compiled published data and subjected a portion of the data to statistical analyses. Apis cerana in China can probably be grouped into 5 geographical races, including the Hainan, Eastern, Southern Yunnan, Aba and Xizang (Tibet) races; and possibly further into 7 biotypes, including the Palm Forest, and Mountain of Hainan, Guangdong-Guangxi, Hunnan, Yunnan plateau, Northern and Changbei Shan biotypes. The geographical distribution limit, and the discrepancy between the grouping of races and biotypes as well as the present results of stepwise discriminant analyses have been discussed.