TIME OF DRONE FLIGHT IN 4 HONEY-BEE SPECIES IN SOUTH-EASTERN THAILAND

At Chanthaburi, Thailand, four species of Apis, A. andreniformis, A. f lorea, A. cerana and A. dorsata, are sympatric. Observations were carr ied out on three wild colonies of each species on various days in Febr uary 1992. The daily drone flight periods were only partially specific : A. andreniformis from 12.15 h to 13.45 h; A. florea from 14.00 h to 16.45 h; A. cerana from 15.15 h to 17.30 h; and A. dorsata from 18.15 h to 18.45 h. The significance of these partially separate drone fligh t periods is discussed in terms of both reproductive isolation and evo lution.