Apis cerana japonica
Encyclopedia
Apis cerana japonica is a subspecies
of honeybee native to Japan
. It is commonly known as the . This subspecies was determined, through an analysis of mitochondrial DNA
, to have originally come from the Korean peninsula
. They have been observed moving into urban areas due to lack of natural predators.
A.c. japonica is very resistant to the mite Varroa jacobsoni
, which is commonly found among A. cerana
.
When an Asian giant hornet
(Vespa mandarinia) scout locates and approaches a Japanese honeybee hive
it will emit specific pheromonal
hunting signals. When the honeybees detect these pheromones, about one hundred will gather near the entrance of the nest and set up a trap, keeping it open apparently to draw the hornet further into the hive or allow it to enter on its own.
As the hornet enters the nest, a large ball (see image, on the left) of about five hundred honeybees surround it, completely covering it and preventing it from moving. The bees in the ball begin quickly vibrating their flight muscles, raising the internal temperature of the honeybee mass to about 47 °C (116.6 °F).
Japanese honey bees can tolerate temperatures up to 48 °C (118.4 °F), and they can generate a temperature of 47 °C (116.6 °F). The hornet cannot survive more than 46 °C (114.8 °F), resulting in its death. The level of carbon dioxide
also rises within the bee sphere, hastening the hornet's demise. Several bees may perish along with the intruder, but the death of the hornet scout prevents it from summoning reinforcements which could wipe out the colony.
Beekeepers in Japan attempted to introduce the European honeybee in order to increase honey
productivity, but European bees lack the same defensive behavior against the hornet as A. c. japonica and the colonies are rapidly destroyed when discovered by the hornets.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of honeybee native to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is commonly known as the . This subspecies was determined, through an analysis of mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
, to have originally come from the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. They have been observed moving into urban areas due to lack of natural predators.
A.c. japonica is very resistant to the mite Varroa jacobsoni
Varroa jacobsoni
Varroa jacobsoni is a species of mite that parasitises Apis cerana . The more damaging Varroa destructor was previously included under the name V. jacobsoni, but the two species can be separated on the basis of the DNA sequence of the cytochrome oxidase I gene in the mitochondrial DNA....
, which is commonly found among A. cerana
Apis cerana
Apis cerana, or the Asiatic honey bee , is a species of honey bee found in southern and southeastern Asia, such as China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea. This species is the sister species of Apis koschevnikovi, and both are in the same subgenus as the Western honey...
.
Ecology and behavior
Asian giant hornet
The Asian giant hornet , including the subspecies Japanese giant hornet , colloquially known as the yak-killer hornet, is the world's largest hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia...
(Vespa mandarinia) scout locates and approaches a Japanese honeybee hive
Beehive
A beehive is a structure in which bees live and raise their young.Beehive may also refer to:Buildings and locations:* Bee Hive, Alabama, a neighborhood in Alabama* Beehive , a wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings...
it will emit specific pheromonal
Pheromone
A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of the receiving individual...
hunting signals. When the honeybees detect these pheromones, about one hundred will gather near the entrance of the nest and set up a trap, keeping it open apparently to draw the hornet further into the hive or allow it to enter on its own.
As the hornet enters the nest, a large ball (see image, on the left) of about five hundred honeybees surround it, completely covering it and preventing it from moving. The bees in the ball begin quickly vibrating their flight muscles, raising the internal temperature of the honeybee mass to about 47 °C (116.6 °F).
Japanese honey bees can tolerate temperatures up to 48 °C (118.4 °F), and they can generate a temperature of 47 °C (116.6 °F). The hornet cannot survive more than 46 °C (114.8 °F), resulting in its death. The level of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
also rises within the bee sphere, hastening the hornet's demise. Several bees may perish along with the intruder, but the death of the hornet scout prevents it from summoning reinforcements which could wipe out the colony.
Beekeepers in Japan attempted to introduce the European honeybee in order to increase honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
productivity, but European bees lack the same defensive behavior against the hornet as A. c. japonica and the colonies are rapidly destroyed when discovered by the hornets.