Introgression between Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz and Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier: the sting pheromones

Abstract - The 8 principal components of the alarm pheromone from the stings of guard bees from natural populations of Apis mellifera capensis and A m scutellata and areas of hybridization were analysed by gas chromatography. A m scutellata produces significantly more secretion than A m capensis. Autocorrelation analyses of intercolonical variance indicates regions of significant variation in these traits. This introgression coincides with hybridization zones previously defined by other variables. Introgression intensity is related to relative honeybee population density and reveals a probable cyclical bottleneck in 1 area generated by climatic oscillations.