The population of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, continues to shrink. The middle-European bee, Apis m. mellifera, is particularly at risk in Europe. The drop in the number of middle-European bees is so huge that the insect is under the threat of extinction. Today, they live on small areas covered by the protection of genetic resources. Apis m. mellifera is protected mainly in areas where this species evolved: for instance, in Switzerland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland or Russia. This paper presents methods used to preserve and protect Apis m. mellifera in Europe and research on the descent and original extent of the species. It also reviews opportunities created by the implementation of various types of programs for the protection of genetic resources of Apis m. mellifera and ways of employing morphological and genetic studies for the conservative breeding of middle-European bees. The paper demonstrates that the protection of Apis m. mellifera in Europe is necessary, considering the decreasing size, and the threat of hybridization, of this population. The use of the morphometric evaluation and DNA analysis methods have made it possible to track and compare likely directions of propagation of genes in the long history of evolution of bees. Moreover, these methods have given us better insight into the ongoing processes. The current use of these methods for reliable identification of bee breeds helps to protect Apis m. mellifera more effectively. European programs for the protection of genetic resources of bees are based on the following two main paradigms: the breeding of local isolated populations on islands and establishment of protected inland areas for the conservative breeding of contained swarms. All these programs share and are successful in achieving the goal that consists in the preservation of the characteristics of Apis m. mellifera as unchanged as possible, with retention of the maximum genetic diversity of the species.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the variability of morphological characteristics of native middle-European bees (Apis m. mellifera) of the ‘Northern M’ line. The research covered characteristics of breed (the length of proboscis, the cubital index), body size (the width of tergite 4 and the sum of widths of tergites 3 and 4) and wing size (length and width). The study compared bees harvested from a leading apiary and from collaborating apiaries participating in a program for the protection of genetic resources of bees of this line. The material for the study was harvested in 10 consecutive years. The samples were collected by the “cluster drawing” method (the multi-stage method of clustering described by Zee et al. in 2013). Each sample consisted of 25 to 30 bees. The frames were loaded in an instrument for the morphological measurement of bees (Apimeter). Seven measurements were taken on prepared body parts of each bee. The length and width of the wing and the length of the cubital vein were measured on the right front wing (hereinafter referred to as the “wing”). In addition, the width of abdominal tergites 3 and 4 and the length of proboscis were measured in each instance. In total, 4 291 bees were harvested and 30 037 measurements were taken. The conclusion is that the program for the protection of genetic resources of bees of the ‘Northern M’ line can be implemented in Poland based on the leading apiary and on the collaborating apiaries, and bees of this line display characteristics of middle-European bees. Moreover, the study demonstrated a consistency of values of the studied characteristics of the ‘Northern M’ line with the applicable references of morphological characteristics for Apis m. mellifera. In addition, based on a review of results of the author’s research and based on collected literature originating from the 1960s, the study proves that a dwarfing trend has emerged among middle-European bees.

The aim of this study was to investigate the diversification of morphological features of the Dark European honey bee of the Augustow M line. The authors studied the proboscis length and cubital index, as features determining the affiliation to the species; the width of tergite 4 and the sum of widths of tergites 3 + 4, as indicators of the bee body size; and the length and width of the right forewing. They compared bees sampled from (1) the “lead apiary”, (2) “associate apiaries” and (3) “conservation area apiaries”—apiaries situated in the conservation area established by the national program for the conservation of genetic resources of this bee line. The conclusion was that it is possible to protect bees of the Augustow M line under the existing program, based on resources available to the lead, associate and conservation area apiaries. The bees studied have the essential features of the Dark European honey bee and the values of parameters tested are consistent with the morphological feature references valid for Apis m. mellifera. On the other hand, based on the authors’ research and on other studies described in literature of 1960s, there is a dwarfing trend in the Dark European honey bee of the Augustow M line.

In Poland, as in the whole world, there is a growing risk of extinction of the honeybee, especially the subspecies of the native middle-European bee. The main factors for the disappearance of native bee lines are environmental degradation, diseases and pathogens, as well as the introduction of imported queen bees of other breeds into domestic breeding. In this situation, it is particularly important to protect the genetic resources of native bees, which currently live in small areas covered by protection programs. The aim of this work is to review the possibilities offered by morphological and genetic examinations in the conservation breeding of native honey bee lines. It was found that the implementation of programs for the protection of native middle-European bees should be continued because of the growing risk of losing or diluting the valuable gene pool of native bees. Only the combination of phenotypic analysis and analysis based on DNA markers can effectively contribute to the protection of the native middle-European bee..