Research Paper: Isolated Populations of Honeybees in Australia

Hybridisation 

in the present day, natural races are the results of selection processes acting over a long period, developing adaptive traits to specific environmental conditions. A consequence of hybridisation; hybrids always show deviations in several characters such as morphology and wing venation.

Wing Venation 

The shape of wing is one of the few characters examined that has a high functional value. 

In the Tasmanian bees, however, the wings are both shorter and wider (by about 1%) than those of European black bees; the total area is approximately the same. The high standard deviation for both length and width of the wing shows that this characteristic is not yet stabilised. 

Kangaroo Island 

The colonies of Kangaroo Island are kept in small apiaries, or live wild in caves and trees. Since the 1950s K. M. Doull and J. E. Eckert made extensive surveys of the wild and domesticated bees on the Island (Eckert, 1958). The bees were found to be extremely gentle, and remarkably uniform over the whole Island. 

Tasmania 

At present (1976) there are about 15,000 colonies in hives on the island and an unknown number (perhaps 10,000) living wild in the forests. These bees are well adapted to the cool local climate and will survive and thrive. They are good tempered. 

Conclusion 

The full implications of the wise legislation of 1885, so far ahead of its time, can only now be recognised. All who are interested in this field will hope that the efforts to maintain these isolated populations will continue. 

Read more on An Act for the culture of Bees: https://bee.org.au/blogs/press-release/act-kangaroo-island-australia