Studies on the biology of honeybees stem from ancient times, in both Asia and Europe. However, published scientific works on the honeybees of both regions gained unanticipated momentum on the heels of World War II and were boosted exponentially by Sputnik a decade later. Since that time, 95% of all publications on Asian and 99% on European honeybees were published. We believe that the publication of the Ruttner’s monographs (1988, 1992) was further major stimuli for research on Asian honeybees. Having just brought extraordinary clarity to the “real” honeybees (Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, and Apis mellifera), soon after Apis koschevnikovi, Apis andreniformis, Apis laboriosa, and Apis.
