Abstract: 【Aim】 Apis cerana cerana is an important germplasm resource and pollinator. This study aims to explore the genetic diversity and population structure of A. cerana cerana in theYimengMountains,Shandongprovince,East Chinaso as to provide a theoretical foundation for the utilization and conservation of germplasm resource for A. cerana cerana. 【Methods】 In this study, 114 broods of A. cerana cerana from 7 localities in the Yimeng Mountains were selected and 36 morphological indexes were measured according to Ruttner’s analytical method. And the genetic diversity of A. cerana cerana in theYimengMountainswas evaluated with 11 microsatellite loci. 【Results】 The results of morphological analysis showed that the average body length and the average forewing length of A. cerana cerana foraging workers in theYimengMountainswere 12.064-13.351 mmand 8.198-8.694 mm, respectively. Fifty-eight alleles were found in the 11 microsatellite loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 17. The average expected heterozygosity and polymorphism information content (PIC) of all loci were 0.3115 and 0.2872, respectively. The average number of alleles in all the populations ranged from 2.4545 (ST-AQ) to 4.0000 (BHY), and the average expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.1916 to 0.3397. The average genetic differentiation measured as an Fst value was 0.048. The Nei’s genetic distance ranged from 0.0092 (XL-DLZ to XZ-XLZ) to 0.1000 (XL-DLZ to XL-DJW). Besides, the cluster analysis results showed that all the populations in theYimengMountainscould be grouped into three categories. 【Conclusion】 The population structure of A. cerana cerana populations in theYimengMountainsis similar. The results suggest that the gene flow occurs in different populations. Compared with the populations in other positions, A. cerana cerana in theYimengMountainsshows certain specificity in morphology and genetic structure.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana, morphology, microsatellite, genetic diversity, YimengMountains