Abstract
Although a relatively species-poor group of animals, honeybees exert an extensive influence on the biotope.
Species diversity amongst honeybees is remarkably small. Only nine species of the genus Apis are known, not exactly a record for insects. These are grouped together with the bumblebees into the family of true bees (Apidae). Eight genera of honeybees live in Asia, while only one species, Apis mellifera, is present on the two continents of Europe and Africa. There they have formed many races that can interbreed with one another. Apis mellifera has been secondarily distributed worldwide by mankind.
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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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(2008). Honeybees — a Model for Success. In: The Buzz about Bees. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78729-7_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78729-7_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-78727-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-78729-7
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