Abstract: The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) (Hymenoptera:  Apidae) has been genome-wide sequenced following Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera:  Drosophilidae), Anopheles gambiae (Diptera:  Culicidae) and Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). Therefore, the research on the honey bee has entered into a post genomic era. As a eusocial insect, many traits of honey bees, which are closely related to their social life style, are of quantitative traits. The QTL mapping has been extensively applied for the research on these features. Herein, we discuss the current situation of the research on foraging behavior, defensive behavior, body size, reversal learning and so on of honey bees by the QTL mapping approach. Besides, we summarize the latest progresses of the QTL mapping on honey bees in the post-genomic era.

Key words: Honey bees, postgenomic era, QTL, quantitative traits, DNA microarray