Comparative nest architecture of the dwarf honey bees

SUMMARYComplete descriptions using a variety of measurements are provided for nests of Apis andreniformis from south-eastern Thailand, Sichuan and Hunan Provinces of China, and Palawan, Philippines and Apis florea from southeastern Thailand and Hunan Province of China. Overall, the single-comb nest of A. andreniformis has a very different structure from that of A. florea. The comb built by A. andreniformis has a midrib both above and below the supporting branch. However, the comb built by A. florea has a mid-rib only in the brood area below the supporting branch. The honey storage mid-rib of A. andreniformis nests gives them a characteristic crown appearance. Other differences include the overall size of the nest, the width and depth of worker cells and the width of drone cells.