Ecological Insights into Honey Bees of Southeast Vietnam: Species, Distribution, and Floral Relationships

Apis honey bees, which belong to the family Apidae and the order Hymenoptera, are pollinators that help both cultivated and wild plants reproduce. This study reported the species composition and distribution of Apis bees, along with a comprehensive inventory of their associated flowering plants in southeastern Vietnam. Field studies conducted between 2023 and 2025 identified five honey bee species: Apis andreniformis, A. cerana, A. dorsata, A. florea, and A. mellifera. Among them, A. mellifera is non-native, while the other four are indigenous. Except for A. andreniformis, which was restricted to natural forests in Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces, all other species were recorded across multiple locations. This research produced an illustrated identification key for Apis species to enhance precision. We recorded at least 563 honey bee visits to 67 flowering plant species across 33 taxonomic groups. Among the studied species, A. florea showed the strongest associations with flowers. The greatest number of bee species was recorded in natural forests, particularly at elevations between 200 and 500 m. Statistical analyses revealed a clear positive relationship between bee abundance and plant species richness, highlighting the crucial role of floral diversity in supporting pollinator populations. Principal component analysis further showed that A. cerana and A. florea favored flowers from the Asteraceae and Fabaceae families. Overall, the findings suggest that tropical honey bee populations and their pollination networks depend heavily on diverse habitats and varied plant communities. This is particularly evident in the natural forests of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces. This study provides a foundation for developing conservation strategies to protect honey bee species and enhance their ecological and economic roles in southeastern Vietnam. Understanding the distribution of honey bees and flowering plants, supported by identification guides, is essential for exploring their interactions.