GENETIC COMPOSITION AND PHENOLOGY OF MATING DRONE CONGREGATIONS IN THE HONEY BEE APIS MELLIFERA

Genetic composition child phenology of mating drone congregations in the honey bee Apis mellifera. - Apis mellifera is diversified into 25 subspecies or geographic races with eco-ethological characteristics adapted to their environment. Today, on the French territory, the native bee Apis mellifera mellifera is eroded, in particular by subspecies ligustica and caucasica, and by a synthetic lineage, the Buckfast. For a better understanding of the mechanisms acting during inter-race matings and, possibly, to propose, in the future, tools for the protection of the variety of domestic bees, this study addresses the question whether particular behavioural specificities exist in the constitution of the drone congregations according to the race, Results show that, in the case of Apis mellifera mellifera, there is a behavioural reproductive isolation based on a nuptial flight time-lag depending on the drones lineages. This time-lag is present although all congregate on the same sites.