17/01/2026
Api Cerana
Apis cerana, the Asian honey bee, belongs to the Apidae family (true bees), within the Apis genus, known for building multiple-comb nests in cavities, similar to Apis mellifera, and is the natural host for Varroa mites, with several subspecies like A. cerana indica prevalent in Asia, differing in morphology and behavior across its range.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae (true bees, including bumblebees, carpenter bees, stingless bees)
Subfamily: Apinae
Tribe: Apini
Genus: Apis (honey bees)
Species: Apis cerana (Asian honey bee)
Native Range: Southern, southeastern, and eastern Asia. Forexample this video is taken from one of the Asian country, China.
Nest Type: Builds multiple comb nests inside cavities, unlike single-comb open nests of giant honey bees.
Morphology: Medium-sized (around 9-11mm), with rusty-colored legs and tan body hairs; variations exist among subspecies.
Behavior: A generalist forager for nectar and pollen, providing pollination services.
Colony Size: Smaller than Western honey bees, with a maximum of 6,000-7,000 workers in Japanese subspecies.
Includes subspecies like A. cerana indica (Indian honey bee), A. cerana japonica (Japanese honey bee), A. cerana javana, and others, showing significant genetic and physical diversity.
& Pests
Crucial pollinator in Asian ecosystems.
Natural host for parasites like Varroa jacobsoni and Nosema ceranae.
Evolved alongside predators like giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia).
Mohammed Getahun