Thorough morphological and genetic evidence confirm the existence of the endemic honey bee of the Maltese Islands <i>Apis mellifera ruttneri</i>: recommendations for conservation Marion Zammit-Mangion Marina Meixner David Mifsud Sheryl Sammut Liberato Camilleri 10.6084/m9.figshare.5436373.v1 https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Thorough_morphological_and_genetic_evidence_confirm_the_existence_of_the_endemic_honey_bee_of_the_Maltese_Islands_i_Apis_mellifera_ruttneri_i_recommendations_for_conservation/5436373 <p>The status of <i>Apis mellifera ruttneri,</i> an endemic honey bee of the Maltese islands, was uncertain after a series of devastating Varroa mite infestations followed by ill-conceived replacement programs. Morphometric analysis, which was the method originally used to identify this honey bee subspecies, was carried out using 33 different parameters<i>.</i> Thirty-two colonies exhibiting morphometric data that corresponded to those in the original description of <i>A. m. ruttneri</i> were identified (<i>p</i> > 0.99). In addition, the mitochondrial DNA region spanning the tRNA<sup>leu</sup>-Cox2 region from colonies bearing the morphometric data associated with <i>A. m. ruttneri</i> was amplified (77% showed the P<sub>0</sub>QQ structure). The data presented confirm morphometric similarity with <i>A. m. siciliana</i> and <i>A. m. intermissa</i>. We report the presence of A4, A8 and A9 haplotypes in <i>A. m. ruttneri</i> (83%; frequency 0.189, 0.081 and 0.486 respectively). European haplotypes belonging to the C1, C2 and M7 haplotypes were also recorded (17%; 0.135, 0.081, 0027). Recommendations for the conservation of this honey bee are proposed.</p> 2017-09-25 07:03:57 Apis mellifera ruttneri morphometry mitochondrial DNA Maltese Islands conservation