Origins and invasion characteristics of the recently introduced dwarf honeybee Apis florea Fabricius, 1787 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in Taiwan

The dwarf honeybee Apis florea Fabricius, 1787, an invasive alien species, has been rapidly expanding in Kaohsiung city of southern Taiwan since 2017. The aim of our study was to understand the expansion and status of A. florea populations by: 1. Removing nests and assessing their development, and measuring the phenological activities. 2. Sequencing DNA to determine origins of invasion. Our results show that A. florea prefers to use anthropogenic sites and concealed places for nesting. We conclude that residential areas serve as refugia for A. florea, as they provide ample nesting substrate structurally similar to that in their native range and are markedly cooler, allowing them to adapt to a vastly different climate. DNA sequencing results suggest a single origin of A. florea invasion in Taiwan.