To survive in the temperate zone, how did the species Apis mellifera adapt (change its behavior)?

eliochel
Jan 22
1 min read

Updated: Jan 26

It changed its behavior in two major ways from the other Apis species that never moved out of the tropics. (1) it stored enough surplus honey to survive the winter dearth and (2) it developed an advanced clustering behavior to keep the queen alive through cold winters.

Photo above is of Apis mellifera nestled in a rock cavity in Arizona building up its surplus honey stores. From World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting, Eva Crane.

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To survive in the temperate zone, how did the species Apis mellifera adapt (change its behavior)?

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