ENVS 2210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: African Bee, Thermoregulation, Western Honey Bee

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Environmental Sciences
• Course: ENVS 2210
• Professor: Ernesto Guzman

Document Summary

African honey bees; characteristics and introductions into the americas. Africanized bees races) = africanized bees: result of crosses of apis mellifera scutellata x apis mellifera (european, the (cid:498)killer(cid:499) bees were a constant subject on the media since the 60s, more resistance to diseases. Races: 8-10 recognized, developed over a period of 3 million years, apis mellifera scutellata of special interest b/c it was introduced into the. The name was chosen b/c of their colour. Adapted to their environment by natural selection; bees better adapted (natural selection) survived and reproduced passing their genes onto the next generations of bees. ( how did bees evolve from natural selection??) abundant honey plants. Occurs southeast of the sahara down to south africa. Swarms and colonies nest in unsheltered sites; don"t spend energy creating protective shelter. Existence of variation for different characteristics within the population. Variations for some characteristics must be advantageous in a particular environment (selective agent)