ees may be one of the most efficient insects for pollinating both wild plants and cultivated
crops. Nevertheless, drastic declines in wild bee populations have become an environmental issue
which has recently garnered much attention. In this study, we collected occurrence records
of the Asian honeybee species, Apis cerana. We then combined data of environmental factors
and land cover types to generate a simulation of suitable habitat distributions for the species using
a maximum entropy species distribution model. In addition, we established a spatial model
of the species’ pollination services in Taiwan based on the distribution of suitable habitats. We
found that A. cerana preferred habitats at low to medium elevations compared to agricultural
areas of the plains. Thus it provides much more pollination services to natural forests, planted
forests, and orchards than to lowland paddy fields. This might be due to greater disturbances by
human development and competition from the introduced exotic bee species, Apis mellifera, in
agricultural areas of the plains. Based on results of this study, we were able to determine areas
where A. cerana can provide pollination services. This knowledge should be helpful in promoting
better land management and species conservation.