Why is the Western honey bee Apis mellifera found on all continents (except for the poles) while the other honey bee species have a much narrower range?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks why Apis mellifera has such a broad, nearly global distribution compared to other honey bee species.
First, consider the statement provided: 'Apis mellifera is a native species only in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Europeans spread them further when colonizing the Americas, Australia, and parts of Asia.' This option emphasizes human-mediated dispersal as the key factor, which aligns with known historical and biogeographical patterns: A. mellifera originated in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and was subsequently transported by humans to new continents during periods of exploration, trade, and colonization.
Next, evaluate how this explains the global presence. Humans moved beekeeping practices and the bees themselves for pollination and honey production, establishing introduced populations in the Americas, Australia, and various parts of Asia. Once introduced, A. mellifera can adapt to a wide range of climates, further expanding its range across temperate and some tropical zones, which contributes to its near-ubiquitous presence except for extreme polar regions.
Now contrast with what this option implies about native ranges and colonization. It correctly notes the native region and the impact of human activity on distribution, which is a primary reason for the species’ global reach.
Consider potential alternative explanations (not presented in the options) that might confuse the issue: if one argued that natural dispersal alone accounts for broad distribution, or that other species are inherently unable to tolerate diverse climates, those would be incomplete or inaccurate. In reality, the broad distribution of A. mellifera results from a combination of its ecological adaptability and extensive human-mediated translocation, whereas other honey bee species tend to have more restricted native ranges and are less commonly transported globally.
In sum, this option correctly attributes the wide distribution of Apis mellifera to its native presence in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and to subsequent human-assisted dispersal during colonization, which is consistent with historical beekeeping and biogeography patterns.

ENTOM2030/ENTOM2031 Post-lecture 2 quiz

Why is the Western honey bee Apis mellifera found on all continents (except for the poles) while the other honey bee species have a much narrower range?

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