Identity of cavity nesting honey bees of the Indian subcontinent with description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae: Apini: Apis)

Abstract

A new species of cavity nesting honey bees, Apis karinjodian n. sp., endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot is described and illustrated. Apis indica Fabricius, 1798 status restored is resurrected from synonymy with Apis cerana Fabricius, 1793. Key to distinguish the three native cavity nesting honey bee species occurring in the Indian subcontinent viz., Apis cerana Fabricius, 1793, Apis indica Fabricius, 1798 and Apis karinjodian n. sp. is provided. Distribution map is given for the native cavity nesting Apis species of the Indian subcontinent. The morphological description of the new species is supplemented with molecular and behavioral information. Radio-Medial Index (RMI), a new measure for species discrimination in Apis, is proposed. South India is proposed as the center of origin of the European honeybee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758.