>> Can you cite any reference showing that the difference in tongue lenght
>> between "big" Apis mellifera and little Apis mellifera?
>
> In this link, you can see for yourself that  the "little Apis mellifera",
> A.m.Caucasica, has the longest proboscis compared to the "big" Apis
> melliferas.
>
> http://www.beeworks.com/morphometry/

True, and an interesting article it is, too.

Nonetheless, I think the question was meant to mean "big" Apis mellifera and
little Apis mellifera _with the same genes_, not bees two very different
sets of genetics and morphology.

The matter under consideration is whether bees tongues stay the same (or get
longer?) when a given strain of bees are downsized -- whether by
malnutrition, being raised in smaller cells or even some form of magick.

allen

What a blessing it would be if we could open and shut our ears as easily as
we open and shut our eyes!
            -- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

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