Morphometric study of Yemeni (Apis mellifera jemenitica) and Carniolan (A. m. carnica) honeybee workers in Saudi Arabia

A comparative morphometric analysis of Yemeni (Apis mellifera jemenitica) and Carniolan (A. m. carnica) honeybee workers in Saudi Arabia revealed that Yemeni bees exhibit significantly smaller body size and key productivity-related parameters under the region's extreme summer conditions, often exceeding 40°C. These findings suggest that the native Yemeni subspecies may be better adapted to the arid climate of Al-Ahsa Oasis, where mid-day foraging activity declines due to heat. The study measured 16 distinct morphometric traits, including body weight, wing dimensions, leg structures, and abdominal characteristics, concluding that Yemeni bees outperform Carniolan bees in these aspects, except for the number of hamuli—a finding with implications for beekeeping productivity in high-temperature environments.

AL-Kahtani, S. N., & Taha, E.-K. A. (2021). Morphometric study of Yemeni (Apis mellifera jemenitica) and Carniolan (A. m. carnica) honeybee workers in Saudi Arabia. Plos One, 16(2), e0247262. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247262