【Aim】To analyze the differential expression of genes involved in the pigment pathway of red-backed Apis cerana cerana and reveal the molecular mechanism of pigment formation of red-backed A. cerana cerana. 【Methods】 The differences in the adult worker body color between the newly emerged red- and black-backed (normal individuals) A. cerana cerana were observed using stereomicroscope. Homologous genes of 8 genes related to melanin metabolism pathway (PAH, TH, DDC, ebony, tan, aaNAT, yellow-y and laccase 2), 4 genes related to pterin pathway (GTPCH I, SPR, PTPS and GC-1), 2 genes related to ommochrome pigment pathway (vermilion and cinnabar), and 4 genes related to urate transport protein (BLOS2, HPS5, OK and Varp) were identified in adult A. cerana cerana workers via BLAST. The relative expression levels of the above genes involved in pigment pathways in the thoracic tergum and abdominal integument of the red- and black-backed A. cerana cerana adult workers were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. 【Results】 The color difference in the adult worker body color between the red- and black-backed A. cerana cerana was found on thoracic tergum. The thoracic tergum of the red-backed A. cerana cerana is in brownish red, while that of the black-backed A. cerana cerana is in black. The fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that the expression levels of tan, laccase 2, SPR, vermilion, cinnabar, BLOS2 and OK and that of OK in the thoracic tergum and abdominal integument had significant difference, respectively, between the red-backed adult A. cerana cerana workers and black-backed adult A. cerana cerana workers. 【Conclusion】 Red-backed A. cerana cerana and black-backed A. cerana cerana have obvious body color difference on the thoracic tergum. This phenomenon of body color differentiation is influenced by the combined effects of genes related to melanin, pterin and ommochrome pigment pathways, and urate transport in honeybee.