Apis Dorsata - Subspecies

Subspecies

Michael S. Engel recognized the following subspecies:

• Apis dorsata dorsata; primarily from India
• Apis dorsata binghami ; (Indonesian honey bee) from Malaysia and Indonesia
• Apis dorsata breviligula ; from the Philippines
• Apis dorsata laboriosa ; (Himalayan cliff honey bee), also in Myanmar, Laos, and southern China

The latter is not distinct morphologically from the nominate, but has different housekeeping and swarming behavior, allowing it to survive at high altitudes. In addition, there has been little gene flow between it and A. dorsata for millions of years; accordingly, some argue that it should be classified as a species. Likewise, the southeastern taxon binghami seems also to be distinct. The limits of their ranges in Indochina and the possible distinctness of the geographically distant Philippines population require more study. However, the use of the taxonomic rank of "subspecies" is typical for geographically discrete populations, so the difference in opinion here is whether or not to recognize the rank of subspecies or not (i.e., no one is disputing that they are distinct lineages, the dispute is over whether to call them "species").