Evaluation of morphological characteristics of honey bee Apis mellifera meda (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Mazandaran (North of Iran)

A random sample of honey bee workers (400) was taken from 40 colonies in three cities of Mazandaran province (North of Iran). 12 morphological characters (i.e. the proboscis length, hind leg length, forewing width, forewing length, A4, D7, G18 angles, cubital index, tergit3 + tergit4 length, slenderness index, scutellum color, third & forth tergit color) were measured. Honey bee colonies of three cities have been separated perfectly using morphological characters.