ABSTRACT
In contrast to the other groups of Apidae which consists of 100-300 species each, in the true honeybees, Apis, only four species are generally recognized. In the four honeybee species the main component of the queen's sex attractant is 9-oxo-trans 2 decenoic acid. In times of scarce food sources honeybees search for forage wherever they are able to find it. Predators normally prey on a large variety of species. The observations demonstrate that interspecific competition seems to be an important factor influencing the coexistence of honeybee species. A survey of the parasites of honeybees in Sri Lanka indicates that there are efficient natural barriers which prevent the exchange among the indigenous honey bee species. This situation changes drastically when exotic bees are imported. In Asia Tropilaepaps clarae switched over from its native host A. dorsata to imported A. mellifera and is causing severe damage.
