Morphological Characterization and Species Distribution Modeling of Honey Bees (Apis florea and Apis dorsata) in District Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Honey bees serve as an essential natural source of various products, including honey, royal jelly, wax, pollen, and propolis which are very important medicinally as well as economically. Besides this, their crucial role in achieving sustainable agricultural productivity by effectively pollinating plants and ensuring successful plant reproduction is also astonishing. The biodiversity and preservation of honey bee races depend greatly on morphological characteristics. Studying the morphological characteristics of honey bees holds significant importance in discerning and conserving various subspecies or races, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity. Therefore, this research work was conducted to identify major honey bee species in District Lakki Marwat using morphological characteristics. As honey bees are sensitive to environmental variables and climate changes. Very little information is available about honey bee species distribution, habitat suitability, and variables affecting their distribution in the study area. Therefore, in this study, the distribution pattern and habitat suitability of honey bee species (Apis florea and Apis dorsata) in District Lakki Marwat associated with various environmental variables were determined using the MaxEnt model. Using recorded data (present-only data) and climatic variables, a potential distribution map was generated using the MaxEnt model. According to the results, mountain regions with sufficient nectar and nutrient resources were found highly suitable habitats for giant honey bees (A. dorsata). Although dwarf honey bees (A. florea) were recorded from the mountain regions, these species were also recorded from other plain regions throughout the study area. Therefore, it was concluded that the most suitable habitats for A. florea were arid regions with hot summers and mild winters like the climate of District Lakki Marwat. Environmental Variables such as temperature seasonality, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation of the wettest month, and the mean temperature had a considerable percent contribution to the model simulation and showed the greatest impacts on contributions on the distribution of honey bee species (A. florea and A. dorsata). This research work analyzes important environmental factors impacting species distribution and assisting in identifying potential beekeeping areas.