Residual data reveals greater efficacy than Procrustes data in differentiation and relationships between the populations of Apis cerana (Hym., Apidae)

Apis cerana Fabricius, 1787 occurs in the Asian areas. No publication uses residual coordinates (residual data) to compare the populations of A. cerana. Therefore, the objective of the current research was a comparison of the performance efficacy of residual and Procrustes coordinates in differentiation and relationships among the populations of A. cerana in various areas of the world. The samples of honeybee species of A. cerana were prepared from their distributed areas. Residual data performed slightly better than Procrustes data. Residual data corrected some errors of images not captured using Procrustes data therefore it could be more employed in next studies.

The recent results showed that the cluster analysis derived from Procrustes data could not indicate a reliable relationship between the Papua New Guinea population and other populations of A. cerana. The cluster analysis derived from residual data could indicate a more reliable relationship between A. cerana populations of Papua New Guinea and Sumatra. Moreover, in the present study, the cluster analysis derived from residual data showed more reliable findings than Procrustes data between A. cerana populations of Sulawesi and Indonesia (Laboan Bajo, Flores).