Abstract: In this study, sample of bees were selected from the main habitat area of the Apis cerana cerana of 18 apiaries in Pengshui county of Chongqing. Six major morphological indexes of five worker honeybees, such as proboscis length,wing length and so on, were measured by each colony. The data of bee morphological indicators in Pengshui were compared with those data reported in 17 areas including Hubei and Jiangxi. The results showed that the average wing length, wing width and T3+T4 tergum length of the bees in Pengshui were at the middle-upper level, suggesting that their collecting ability and nectar storage capacity had certain advantages.These results can provide morphological data for the investigation and protection of the local honeybee genetic resources.

Key words: Apsi cerana cerana, morphological index, protection of the genetic resources, Pengshui county