Honey bees, members of the genus Apis, are highly social flying insects renowned for their ability to produce and store honey. Beyond their honey production, honey bees play a significant role in ecosystems as pollinators. They are responsible for pollinating a substantial portion of the world’s food supply, contributing to the growth of about one-third of the human diet. These industrious insects also provide other valuable products like beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly. Their ecological contributions extend to supporting plant biodiversity, making them an important component of global ecosystems.
Evolutionary Roots and Geographic Birthplace
Scientific consensus indicates that the genus Apis originated in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. This region is home to nearly all extant Apis species, with only Apis mellifera being native to other parts of the world. The presence of the most primitive living honey bee species, Apis florea and Apis andreniformis, in Southeast Asia further supports this region as their evolutionary cradle.
Fossil evidence suggests that the earliest Apis bees appeared around 35 million years ago during the Oligocene period. While some early honey bee fossils, such as Apis armbrusteri, have been discovered in Europe, this does not necessarily mean Europe was their origin. The scarcity of fossil deposits in Southeast Asia makes it challenging to find older evidence in their true birthplace.
Recent genetic studies have provided more precise insights into the origin of Apis mellifera, the Western honey bee. Analysis of 251 genomes from various subspecies strongly suggests an Asian origin, specifically Western Asia, approximately 7 million years ago. This genetic evidence indicates that Apis mellifera subsequently spread into Africa and Europe around 6 million years ago.
Diversification and Natural Spread
From Asia, different Apis species diversified and expanded their natural ranges. Apis mellifera, the Western honey bee, migrated from its Western Asian origin into diverse regions across Europe and Africa. This species demonstrated remarkable adaptability, thriving in diverse climates and leading to numerous subspecies.
Other honey bee species, such as Apis dorsata (the giant honey bee) and Apis florea (the dwarf honey bee), are primarily distributed across South and Southeast Asia. Apis florea and Apis andreniformis are characteristic small honey bees of these regions. Interestingly, Apis florea also managed to extend its natural range into parts of Africa.
Apis cerana, known as the Eastern honey bee, is another species endemic to much of Asia. This species has been utilized for honey production and pollination within its native Asian range for thousands of years. Natural migratory patterns, aided by ancient climate changes like land bridges during the Pleistocene ice age, facilitated honey bee movement between continents in the Northern Hemisphere. While an extinct honey bee fossil, Apis nearctica, found in Nevada, suggests a past presence in North America around 14 million years ago, this lineage did not persist into modern times in the New World.
Human Influence on Global Distribution
Human activities have significantly altered the global distribution of honey bees, especially Apis mellifera. This species has become the most widely managed pollinator worldwide, largely due to centuries of beekeeping practices and intentional transport by humans. European colonists introduced Apis mellifera to the Americas.
The first documented successful introduction of honey bees to North America occurred in 1622, when European settlers brought them to the Jamestown colony. Honey bees were also introduced to South America in the early 16th century and to Australia in the early 19th century, such as the 1822 introduction to Australia aboard the Isabella. These introductions were driven by the desire for honey production and pollination of new crops.
Human-mediated dispersal also led to “Africanized” honey bees in the Americas. These bees resulted from an accidental release in Brazil in 1956 and have since spread throughout South and Central America, and into parts of the southern United States. Today, Apis mellifera can be found on every continent except Antarctica, a testament to its long association with and extensive dispersal by human populations.