THE CURRENT STATE OF THE EUROPEAN DARK BEE SUBSPECIES Apis mellifera mellifera L. IN THE NORTH RANGE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors:   Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Zoology, Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia, Chugreev Mikhail Konstantinovich,  ,   Chugreev-mk@mail.ru,   https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5876-8715, Baimukanov Dastanbek Asylbekovich,  ,   Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Animal Breeding and Fodder Production, Almaty, Kazakhstan; dbaimukanov@mail.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4684-7114, Blokhin Gennady Ivanovich,  ,   Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Zoology, Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia; zoolog@rgau-msha.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1235-6069, Malovichko Lyubov Vasilievna,  ,   Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Zoology, Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia; l-malovichko@yandex.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1040-2890, Zubaliy Anastasia Mikhailovna,  ,   Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Zoology, Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia; zanast@mail.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5114-830X, Skvortsova Elena Gamerovna,  ,   Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Zootechnics, Yaroslavl State Agricultural Academy, Yaroslavl, Russia; e.skvorcova@yarcx.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0699-7959, Doshanov Daulet Askarovich,  ,   Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University, Shymkent, Kazakhstan; dauliet70@mail.ru, Tkacheva Irina Sergeevna,  ,   postgraduate student of the Department of Aquaculture and Beekeeping, Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia; oxotkontr-tis@mail.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7988-7112, Kruglov Sergey Alekseevich,  ,   postgraduate student of the Department of Zoology, Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia; oxotkontr-ks@mail.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3343-461X
Published: December 2020

The research to determine the factors with a negative impact on the resource status of honey bees in the Russian Federation has been done. Based on the research results, a simple and affordable rapid test for determining the origin of bees was proposed, based on the study of a complex of morphological and biological characteristics of working bees, such as proboscis length, cubital index, discoid displacement, the shape of the rear border of the wax plate of sternite 5, body color, the character of the honey seal, behavior of bees during the examination of the nest and phototaxis. The test is suitable for detecting bee crossbreeding during their mass selection since the listed morphological and biological traits are the most contrasting and indicative among others. The indicated morphological and biological characteristics of bees from the Yaroslavl, Vologda, Kostroma regions, Perm Territory were studied. In the Susaninsky district of the Kostroma region, the bee colonies were identified that correspond to the European dark bees Apis mellifera mellifera L. according to the studied traits. From them, breeding material was taken and evaluated for further breeding and the creation of a nursery reproducer. In conclusion, a landmark is given, a promising direction of work is indicated for the conservation and restoration of the resources of the European dark bees in the current conditions of mass unsystematic crossbreeding in the north of their historical range.