These are the recognised Apis cerana subspecies:
Apis cerana cerana, Apis cerana himalaya, Apis cerana javana, Apis cerana indica, Apis cerana sinensis, Apis cerana japonica
Apis cerana can be distinguished from Apis mellifera by the following characters:
Apis cerana is distinctly smaller and has more prominent abdominal stripes than A. mellifera. Apis cerana also has a distinct hindwing character as shown in the figure shown.
In the wild, Apis cerana prefers to nest in small spaces, such as hollowed out tree trunks. Like the honeybee (Apis mellifera), they are partly domesticated and used in agriculture, mostly in wooden boxes with fixed frames. Apis cerana is the natural host to the mite genus Varroa, a serious pest of the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). By more careful grooming, Apis cerana has a better defense mechanism against Varroa mites.
Differentiation characters between various species of Apis
| Character | mellifera | cerana | dorsata | florea |
| | ||||
| Forewing length: | 8.0-9.7 | 7.4-9.0 | 12.5-14.5 | 6.0-6.9 |
| | Cubital index: | 1.65-2.95 | 3.1-5.1 | 6.1-9.8 | 2.8-3.7 |
| | Tomental hair: | T3-5 | T-3-6 | T3-6 | T3-6 |
| | Nest: | Several combs in cavities | Several combs in cavities | Single large comb at bottom of branch or projecting rock | Single large comb at bottom of branch or projecting rock |
