Bee Wing Morphology in Response to Agricultural Landscapes and Pesticides

Bee wing morphology, including size, shape, and asymmetry, responds rapidly to agricultural field conditions. This study examines Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and honeybees (Apis mellifera) across eight European countries, sampling ~1000 individuals at two time points (T0 and T1) in oilseed rape and apple orchard habitats. Environmental factors such as pesticide use, habitat fragmentation, grassland and urban proportions, and latitude were assessed. While rapid morphological changes were observed, no significant effects of pesticides or habitat fragmentation on wing morphology were found. The research highlights the sensitivity of bee wing traits to environmental shifts, with implications for flight performance and pollination efficiency. Conducted by Gérard, Baird, Breeze, Dominik, and Michez (2022), this CC BY-licensed study contributes to understanding bee responses to agricultural landscapes.