Apis cerana, or the
Asiatic honey bee (or the
eastern honey bee), is a species of
honey bee found in southern and southeastern Asia, including China, Pakistan, India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. This species is the
sister species of
Apis koschevnikovi, and both are in the same subgenus as the western (European) honey bee,
Apis mellifera.
A. cerana is known to live sympatrically as well with
Apis koschevnikovi within the same geographic location.
Apis cerana colonies are known for building nests consisting of multiple combs in cavities containing a small entrance, presumably for defense against invasion by individuals of another nest. The diet of this honey bee species consists mostly of
pollen and
nectar, or
honey. Moreover,
Apis cerana is known for its highly social behavior, reflective of its classification as a type of
honey bee.