MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS OF Apis dorsata WORKER BEES OF JOGIMATTI FOREST AND CHITRADURGA. KARNATAKA - INDIA
S. G. DHANANJAYA *
Department of Zoology, Government Science College, Chitradurga, Karnataka- 577501, India.
K. ROOPA
Department of Biochemistry, Government Science College, Chitradurga, Karnataka- 577501, India.
I. RAMESH
Department of Zoology, Government Science College, Chitradurga, Karnataka- 577501, India.
K. L. NAIK
Zoology Department, Sahyadri Science College (Aut), Shivamogga, Kuvempu University, Karrnataka- 577201, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A few selected morphological traits of A. dorsata worker bees were analysed after collecting worker bees from two different areas in Chitradurga District present in central part of Karnataka. A total of 13 phenotypic characters were measured in the collected samples. The antenna, tongue, fore wing, hind wing, fore leg, mid leg and hind leg showed significant length variation between the workers bees [P < 0.05]. However, the reaming morphological traits showed insignificant variation [P > 0.05]. Observations revealed that there is a considerable relationship between the some morphological traits and the location of A. dorsata worker bees collected from the study areas suspecting morphometric variations perhaps discriminate intraspecific groups of honeybee colonies. Morphometry a simple, basic tool of taxonomy provides foundation information in understanding honeybee biodiversity.
Keywords: Apis dorsata, worker bees, morphometry, Jogimatti, Chitradurga