Diversity of morphological characters of Apis cerana cerana in the different ecological conditions of South Anhui Mountainous
皖南山区不同生态条件下中华蜜蜂形态特征差异性

To analyse ecological adaptability of Apis cerana cerana in Wannan mountain areas of Anhui province, eight kinds of morphological characters of 450 Worker bees in 15 Apis cerana cerana colonies from 5 difference sampling points of Wannan mountain areas were examined. By the mathematical analysis and significance test of difference of traits data, result showed that the remarkable differences of Length labrum, Length forewing, Width tergit 3, Pigment tergit 3, Width tergit 4 and Pigment tergit 4 were existed in 5 sampling points. Apis cerana cerana in Wannan mountain areas had longer length and width of forewing, longer length of tergit 3 and tergit 4, thus represented the great ability of volitation and gathering. The long tergit represented the size of honey stomach, bigger honey stomach could keep more nectar and quicker gathering. These morphological characters showed that Apis cerana cerana in Wannan mountain areas was the more perfect population. The inherited variations in populations of Apis cerana cerana in Wannan mountain areas had great abundance. The difference in morphological characters and the way of ecological and geographical variations gave meaning of ecological adaptation for Apis cerana cerana.