AUTHOR=Kitnya Nyaton , Brockmann Axel , Otis Gard W. 

TITLE=Taxonomic revision and identification keys for the giant honey bees

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bee Science

VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bee-science/articles/10.3389/frbee.2024.1379952

DOI=10.3389/frbee.2024.1379952

ISSN=2813-5911

ABSTRACT=The taxonomy and phylogeny of the giant honey bees (Apis; subgenus Megapis) are still controversial and unresolved. The species boundaries within the subgenus are unclear and some species that are recognized on the basis of genetic differences lack supporting morphological characters. Two species are now well accepted: Apis dorsata Fabricius, 1793, of tropical regions of Asia and Apis laboriosa Smith, 1871, that inhabits the foothills of Himalaya and neighboring mountain ranges. In addition, researchers have suggested that the two allopatric populations of giant honey bees that inhabit Sulawesi, Indonesia (A. binghami Cockerell, 1906)  and the oceanic Philippine islands (A. breviligula     Maa, 1953)  as well as the South Indian form also deserve species status. We conducted a taxonomic study based on morphological characters of Megapis from throughout Asia. Our study confirms that Apis laboriosa is a distinct species based on numerous morphological characters. Moreover, A.