References
- Büchler, R., Costa, C., Hatjina, F., Andonov, S., Meixner, M. D., Conte, Y. L., ... Wilde, J. (2014). The influence of genetic origin and its interaction with environmental effects on the survival of Apis mellifera L. colonies in Europe. Journal of Apicultural Research, 53(2), 205-214. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.53.2.03
- Chetcuti Dimech, D., Borg, S., Buttigieg, A. J., Farrugia, D. (2023). Review of the Maltese and European Laws related to the Genetic Protection of the Endemic Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri). European Energy and Environmental Law Review, 32(3). https://doi.org/10.54648/eelr2023007
- De la Rúa, P. Jaffé, R., Dall’Olio, R., Muñoz, I., Serrano, J. (2009). Biodiversity, conservation and current threats to European honeybees. Apidologie, 40(3), 263-284. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009027
- Farrugia, D., Martin-Hernandez, R., Zammit Mangion, M. (2022). Beekeeping in Malta: A Review of Current Practices, Trends and Challenges. Bee World, 99(4), 131-138. https://doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.2022.2113231
- Franck, P., Garnery, L., Loiseau, A., Oldroyd, B. P., Hepburn, H. R., Solignac, M., Cornuet, J. M. (2001). Genetic diversity of the honeybee in Africa: microsatellite and mitochondrial data. Heredity, 86(4), 420-430. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2540.2001.00842.x
- Hammer, Ø., Harper, D. A. T., Ryan, P. D. (2013). PAST: Paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica, 4(1), 9.
- Harrison, J. F., & Hall, H. G. (1993). African-European honeybee hybrids have low nonintermediate metabolic capacities. Nature, 363(6426), 258-260. https://doi.org/10.1038/363258a0
- Hatjina, F., Costa, C., Büchler, R., Uzunov, A., Drazic, M., Filipi, J., ... Kezic, N. (2014). Population dynamics of European honey bee genotypes under different environmental conditions. Journal of Apicultural Research, 53(2), 233-247. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.53.2.05
- Henriques, D., Lopes, A. R., Ferrari, R., Neves, C. J., Quaresma, A., Browne, K. A., McCormack, G. P., Pinto, M. A. (2020). Can introgression in M-lineage honey bees be detected by abdominal colour patterns? Apidologie, 51(4), 583-593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-020-00744-7
- Henriques, D., Costa, C., Rufino, J., Pinto, M. A. (2022). The mitochondrial genome of Apis mellifera siciliana. Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 7(5), 828-830. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2022.2073844
- Ilyasov, R. A., Lee, M. L., Takahashi, J. I., Kwon, H. W., Nikolenko, A. G. (2020). A revision of subspecies structure of western honey bee Apis mellifera. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 27(12), 3615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.08.001
- Jaffé, R., Dietemann, V., Crewe, R. M., Moritz, R. F. (2009). Temporal variation in the genetic structure of a drone congregation area: an insight into the population dynamics of wild African honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata). Molecular Ecology, 18(7), 1511-1522. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04143.x
- Janczyk, A., Meixner, M. D., Tofilski, A. (2021). Morphometric identification of the endemic Maltese honey bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri). Journal of Apicultural Research, 60(1), 157-164. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2020.1827705
- Jensen, A. B., Palmer, K. A., Chaline, N., Raine, N. E., Tofilski, A., Martin, S. J., ... Ratnieks, F. L. (2005a). Quantifying honey bee mating range and isolation in semi-isolated valleys by DNA microsatellite paternity analysis. Conservation Genetics, 6(4), 527-537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-005-9007-7
- Jensen, A. B., Palmer, K. A., Boomsma, J. J., Pedersen, B. V. (2005b). Varying degrees of Apis mellifera ligustica introgression in protected populations of the black honeybee, Apis mellifera mellifera, in northwest Europe. Molecular Ecology, 14(1), 93-106. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02399.x
- Kandemir, I., Özkan, A., Fuchs, S. (2011). Reevaluation of honeybee (Apis mellifera) microtaxonomy: a geometric morphometric approach. Apidologie, 42, 618-627 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-011-0063-3
- Kekeçoğlu, M. (2018). Morphometric divergence of anatolian honeybees through loss of original traits: A dangerous outcome of Turkish apiculture. Sociobiology, 65(2), 232-243. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v65i2.1895
- Klingenberg, C. P., & Monteiro, L. R. (2005). Distances and directions in multidimensional shape spaces: implications for morphometric applications. Systematic Biology, 54(4), 678-688. https://doi.org/10.1080/10635150590947258
- Klingenberg, C. P. (2011). MorphoJ: an integrated software package for geometric morphometrics. Molecular Ecology Resources, 11(2), 353-357. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2010.02924.x
- Koeniger, G., Koeniger, N., Pechhacker, H., Ruttner, F., Berg, S. (1989). Assortative mating in a mixed population of European honeybees, Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera carnica. Insectes Sociaux, 36(2), 129-138. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02225908
- Kryger, P. (2009). Læsø, a case study in the conservation of a honey bee population. In: Proceedings of the 41st Apimondia Congress. Montpellier: France, 132.
- Le Conte, Y., & Navajas, M. (2008). Climate change: impact on honey bee populations and diseases. Revue Scientifique et Technique - Office International des Epizooties, 27(2), 499-510.
- Maltatoday (2015). ‘No reason to fear for loss of Maltese bee’s identity’ – Galdes. [Online] Available at: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/49202/no_reason_to_fear_for_loss_of_maltese_bees_identity__galdes#.YuVTlXZBxPY
- Maltatoday (2021). Over 1.5 million Gozo bees burnt alive in arson of 28 hives. [Online] Available at: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/environment/nature/111992/over_15_million_gozo_bees_burnt_alive_in_arson_of_28_hives#.Y2QZqHbMJPY
- Miguel, I., Garnery, L., Iriondo, M., Baylac, M., Manzano, C., Steve Sheppard, W., Estonba, A. (2015). Origin, evolution and conservation of the honey bees from La Palma Island (Canary Islands): molecular and morphological data. Journal of Apicultural Research, 54(5), 427-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2016.1180017
- Momeni, J., Parejo, M., Nielsen, R. O., Langa, J., Montes, I., Papoutsis, ... Estonba, A. (2021). Authoritative subspecies diagnosis tool for European honey bees based on ancestry informative SNPs. BMC Genomics, 22(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-07379-7
- Muñoz, I., & De la Rúa, P. (2012). Temporal analysis of the genetic diversity in a honey bee mating area of an island population (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain). Journal of Apicultural Science, 56(1), 41-49. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10289-012-0005-y
- Muñoz, I., Pinto, M. A., De la Rúa, P. (2014a). Effects of queen importation on the genetic diversity of Macaronesian island honey bee populations (Apis mellifera Linneaus 1758). Journal of Apicultural Research, 53(2), 296-302. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.53.2.11
- Muñoz, I., Dall′ Olio, R., Lodesani, M., De la Rúa, P. (2014b). Estimating introgression in Apis mellifera siciliana populations: are the conservation islands really effective? Insect Conservation and Diversity, 7(6), 563-571. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12092
- Nazzi, F. (1992). Morphometric analysis of honey bees from an area of racial hybridisation in northeastern Italy. Apidologie, 23(2), 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19920201
- Pinto, M. A., Henriques, D., Chávez-Galarza, J., Kryger, P., Garnery, L., van der Zee, R., ... Johnston, J. S. (2014). Genetic integrity of the Dark European honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) from protected populations: a genome-wide assessment using SNPs and mtDNA sequence data. Journal of Apicultural Research, 53(2), 269-278. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.53.2.08
- Republic of Malta (2024). ‘Legal Notice: 233 of 2024 - Regulations of 2024 amending the Protection of Protected Species (Declaration of National Species) Regulations. Malta Government Gazette, No. 21,318’. [Online] Available at: https://eli/ln/2024/233
- Ruttner, F., Tassencourt, L., Louveaux, J. (1978). Biometrical statistical analysis of the geographic variability of Apis mellifera L. Apidologie, 9(4), 363-381. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19780408
- Ruttner, F. (1988). Biogeography and Taxonomy of Honeybees. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
- Schneider, S. S., & Hall, H. G. (1997). Diet selection and foraging distances of African and European-African hybrid honey bee colonies in Costa Rica. Insectes Sociaux, 44(2), 171-187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s000400050039
- Schneider, S. S., Leamy, L. J., Lewis, L. A., DeGrandi-Hoffman, G. (2003). The influence of hybridisation between African and European honeybees, Apis mellifera, on asymmetries in wing size and shape. Evolution, 57(10), 2350-2364. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0014-3820.2003.tb00247.x
- Sheppard, W. S., Arias, M. C., Grech, A., Meixner, M. D. (1997). Apis mellifera ruttneri, a new honey bee subspecies from Malta. Apidologie, 28(5), 287-293. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19970505
- Szabo, T. I., & Lefkovitch, P. L. (1992). Heritability of colour patterns in a closed population of honeybees. Apidologie, 23(2), 151-159. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19920208
- Tofilski, A. (2008). Using geometric morphometrics and standard morphometry to discriminate three honeybee subspecies. Apidologie, 39(5), 558-563. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2008037
- Tofilski, A. (2017). IdentiFly. [Online] Available at: http://drawwing.org/identifly
- Uzunov, A., Kiprijanovska, H., Andonov, S., Naumovski, M., Gregorc, A. (2009). Morphological diversity and racial determination of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) population in the Republic of Macedonia. Journal of Apicultural Research, 48(3), 196-203. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.48.3.08
- Uzunov, A., Meixner, M., Büchler, R., Galea, T. (2018). Conservation of the endemic Maltese honey bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri). SmartBees Newsletter, 5, 117-118. https://www.smartbeesfp7.eu/Extension/newsletter-5/#ancor-no2
- Uzunov, A., Mifsud, D., Galea, T., Cutajar, S., Zammit-Mangion, M., Meixner, M. D. (2023). Development, behaviour, productivity, and health status of the native honey bee Apis mellifera ruttneri vs. the introduced A. m. ligustica in Malta. Apidologie, 54(4), 34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-023-01008-w
- Węgrzynowicz, P., Gerula, D., Tofilski, A., Panasiuk, B., Bieńkowska, M. (2019). Maternal inheritance in hybrids of three honey bee subspecies. Journal of Apicultural Science, 63(1), 131-138. https://doi.org/10.2478/JAS-2019-0010
- Zammit-Mangion, M., Cutajar, S., Uzunov, A., Meixner, M. D., Galea, T., Mifsud, D. (2017a). Balancing conflicting needs - A case study in the conservation of the endemic honeybee, Apis mellifera ruttneri. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta, 9.
- Zammit-Mangion, M., Meixner, M. D., Mifsud, D., Sammut, S., Camilleri, L. (2017b). Thorough morphological and genetic evidence confirm the existence of the endemic honey bee of the Maltese Islands Apis mellifera ruttneri: recommendations for conservation. Journal of Apicultural Research, 56(5), 514-522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2017.1371522