Uncontrolled hybridization of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in the territory of Ivano-Fankivsk region

  • В. Ф. Череватов Yuri Fedkovych National University of Chernivtsi Ukraine, 58012, Chernivtsi, Kotsubynski str., 2
  • В. Ю. Феркаляк Yuri Fedkovych National University of Chernivtsi Ukraine, 58012, Chernivtsi, Kotsubynski str., 2
  • Р. А. Волков Yuri Fedkovych National University of Chernivtsi Ukraine, 58012, Chernivtsi, Kotsubynski str., 2

Abstract

Aim. The natural border between three subspecies of Apis mellifera crosses the territory of western Ukraine. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the degree of spontaneous hybridization between breeds that represent these subspecies. Methods. The bees’ subspecies where determined by the cubital index value and the length of proboscis. Results. A high polymorphism of the tested traits among the bees of the same family was found. Accordingly, none of the tested families belongs to the breeds distributed in Ukraine. Conclusions. The studied families of bees in the Ivano-Frankivsk region appear to be hybrids originating from the crossing between the local population of Carpathian bees and the introduced Ukrainian steppe breed and the central Russian breed. The uncontrolled crossing between the breeds leads to the loss of such a valuable feature as long proboscis.

Key words: Apis mellifera L., hybridization, morphometric analysis, honey bee.