Vegetation coverage and land imperviousness in urban area jointly affect hymenopteran pollinator diversity and spatial pattern

• Vegetation cover is a key factor affecting the richness of Hymenopteran pollinators. • Hymenopteran abundance is affected by impervious surface–vegetation cover interaction. • Different taxa of Hymenoptera demonstrate diverse responses to this interaction. • Reducing impervious surfaces and increasing vegetation can enhance Hymenopteran diversity. With the rapid advancement of global urbanization, insect pollinators are confronted with significant challenges. Urbanization typically alters both land imperviousness and vegetation coverage concurrently. While previous studies have examined the individual impacts of these factors on pollinators, the combined effects resulting from their interaction remain poorly understood. Our study delineated an urbanization gradient in Kunming and established sampling plots at each level of this gradient. Over a continuous 24-month field survey period, we systematically collected data on hymenopteran pollinators across different urbanization levels in Kunming, China. Land imperviousness and vegetation coverage for each sampling plot were quantified through field investigations and ArcGIS analysis. The impacts of these factors on the diversity and distribution patterns of hymenopteran pollinators were comprehensively analyzed using generalized linear models and redundancy analysis. We found that vegetation coverage was the primary determinant of hymenopteran pollinator richness. The abundance of hymenopteran pollinators was influenced by the interaction between land imperviousness and vegetation coverage, with different families exhibiting distinct responses to this interaction. Furthermore, an increase in impervious surface led to homogenization of hymenopteran pollinator communities, while increased vegetation coverage promoted greater community heterogeneity. These findings indicate that for urban pollinator diversity conservation, it is crucial to comprehensively evaluate the effects of land imperviousness and vegetation coverage on pollinators, as well as their distinct impacts on various taxa. Implementing science-based urban green design and management strategies can significantly enhance urban pollinator diversity and stability.