Variation in malate dehydrogenase allozymes among honeybee populations in Kenya

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to analyse phenoxyethanol extracts from honeybees (Apis mellifera) for malate dehydrogenase activity. Nine natural populations in Kenya consisting of the subspecies Apis mellifera litorea, Apis mellifera nubica, Apis mellifera monticola and Apis mellifera scutellata were sampled. Allozyme variation in the three Mdh alleles found was quite uniform in all the populations. There were small differences among the populations in allele frequencies and in levels of enzyme activity as indicated by intensity of bands. Genetic variation was lower in honeybees than in samples of five Zaprionus species (Diptera, Drosophilidae) taken earlier from the same localities.