This species is the sister species of Apis koschevnikovi, and both are in the same subgenus as the Western (European) honey bee, Apis mellifera.
nuluensis is one of a number of Asiatic honey bees, including the more obscure Apis koschevnikovi and Apis nigrocincta (the latter of which has nearby habitat on nearby Sulawesi and Mindanao islands)
Apis koschevnikovi | Apis nigrocincta | Apis cerana japonica |