Genetic correlations among honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) behavioral characteristics and wing length

Genetic correlations for behavioral characteristics and forewing length of worker honey bees, Apis mellifera L., were estimated. All characteristics associated with defensive behavior were correlated with each other. The tendency of bees to fly off the combs was correlated with their tendency to run on the combs, and with stinging behavior. Tendency to run was positively correlated with tendency to hang from combs, and with hygienic behavior, but was negatively correlated with forewing length. Forewing length was negatively correlated with hygienic behavior, but it was not significantly correlated with stinging behavior. The correlations obtained suggest that smaller bees have higher activity levels than larger bees. The implications of these results on the adaptive success of Africanized honey bee populations to tropical environments and on selective breeding are discussed.