Viv Wilson photographed
a Honey Bee in Tabuk and sent me the photos for use on my website. I am not
sure what Honey Bee it is but Apis
mellifera jemenitica has been used in apiculture throughout the Arabian
Peninsula since at least 2000 BC. Existing literature demonstrates that these
populations are well adapted for the harsh extremes of the region with populations
of A. m. jemenitica native to Saudi
Arabia far more heat tolerant than the standard races often imported from
Europe. Central Saudi Arabia has the highest summer temperatures for the
Arabian Peninsula, and it is in this region where only A. m. jemenitica survives, while other subspecies fail to persist.
The indigenous race of Saudi Arabia differs from other subspecies in the region
in some morphological, biological, and behavioural characteristics. Further
taxonomic investigation, as well as molecular studies, is needed in order to
confirm whether the Saudi indigenous bee populations represent a race distinct
from A. m. jemenitica, or merely an
ecotype of this subspecies.
