Distribution: Central China, in relatively high elevation areas (northern Sichuan Province, southwestern Gansu Province, and estern Qinghai Province).
Diagnosis: Distinguishable from typical A. cerana cerana in China by the dark brown to black scutellum and T3-T4 (these are yellow in A. cerana cerana). In this respect it resembles the Tibetan Honey Bee, A. cerana skorikovi, from which it differs in larger body size (body lenght 12.5-13.7 mm; forewing lenght 8.8-9.3 mm).
Source: Engel, 1999.