• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2008

The midgut epithelium of Indian honey bee Apis cerana indica is consist of digestive cells and small regenerative cells. The regenerative cells are placed in the nests scattered among the digestive cells. During metamorphosis the midgut of Apis cerana indica is remodeled. The larval midgut epithelium and muscular sheath digested partially at the end of larval period and thrown out in the form of debris in the lumen. The new epithelium is formed by the proliferation of the regenerative cells and during pupation reorganization of midgut layer occurs. The ultrastuctural studies shows that the regenerative cells are in contact with degenerative cells by the cytoplasmic extension which have many septed and gap junctions in the fifth instar larvae. In developing pupae reorganization of the midgut epithelium is continued whereas in the pharate adult the midgut wall shows, characteristic of adult midgut epithelium with pycnotic nuclei in some cells.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 2009

The histological and transmission electron microscopic studies revealed the synthesis activity predominantly in the hypopharyngeal glands of the nurse bees. The biochemical analysis of both, the hypopharyngeal gland extract and royal jelly elucidated unequivocally the proteins and lipids as the major constituents. Further the SDS-PAGE of hypopharyngeal gland extract showed about 17 protein bands, perhaps 14.10, 20.00, 29.00 and 43.00 kDa predominantly while that of royal jelly revealed only two protein bands of 29.00 and 43.00 kDa molecular weight suggesting them as the major royal jelly proteins (MRJP). The lipid profile of royal jelly consists of triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, LDL and VLDL.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.399-408
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• 2022

There has been much debate on the morphometric divergence between the recently identified Apis cerana koreana and Apis cerana honey bees. The aim of this study was to obtain phenotypic information that can be used to compare A. c. koreana data with other A. cerana subspecies data from open resources and determine breeding results on the basis of morphometric traits. To differentiate A. c. koreana, we investigated 22 classic morphological characteristics; royal jelly secretion; and the weight of workers, queens, and drones of A. c. koreana bred in Korea. To define the selection results, we used the geometric morphometric method. The artificially selected A. c. koreana secreted significantly more royal jelly (1.18 times) than the naturally selected A. c. koreana, which positively influenced the health of the colonies. These honey bees were identified more clearly with the geometric morphometric method than with the classic morphometric method, which is traditionally used to determine the subspecies. Large trends were noted for A. c. koreana on the basis of our results and literature from the 1980s regarding A. cerana sizes in Korea (tarsal index, length of forewing, and cubital index were measured). The cluster analysis revealed the proximity of A. c. koreana, A. cerana in China, and A. c. indica on the basis of eight classic characters, which, perhaps, relay the origin of the honey bees. The results of this study defined the morphometric responses of A. c. koreana honey bees to geographic isolation, climate change, and selection, which are important to identify, protect, and preserve honey bee stock in Korea.