Apis cerana japonica is a subspecies of the Eastern honeybee native to Japan. It is commonly known as the Japanese honeybee (ニホンミツバチ Nihon mitsubachi). This subspecies was determined, through an analysis of mitochondrial DNA, to have originally come from the Korean peninsula. They have been observed moving into urban areas in the absence of natural predators. A.c. japonica is very resistant to the mite Varroa jacobsoni, which is commonly found among A. cerana. 3-Hydroxyoctanoic acid is a signalling chemical emitted by the orchid Cymbidium floribundum and recognized by Japanese honeybees.