ABSTRACT
Knowledge of the relationship of Apis to the other members of the Apidae is important in a discussion concerning the diversity within the genus. By placing Apis in relation to the other Apidae, ideas as to the evolutionary events that led to the origin of the genus and its subsequent diversification may be more critically evaluated. It is not the author's intent, however, to provide a thorough phylogenetic analysis of the relationship of Apis to other bees. Such an analysis will be presented elsewhere (Prentice and Daly, in prep.). Instead, this chapter is meant as an outline of some of the major ideas on the relationships within the Apidae and to present some new morphological evidence for a phylogenetic scheme that is contrary to recent ideas concerning those relationships.
