Variation in wings shape of the common Neotropical stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) across an urbanization gradient

Tetragonisca angustula bees are widely distributed throughout Brazil and nesting in various substrates, including urban areas. This study aims to investigate the environmental effects on wing morphometry in T. angustula bees along an urban gradient, determining if and where these variations occur and whether asymmetry increases in urbanized environments. We evaluated three distinct locations: an urban area, a semi-natural urban area, and a rural area. The results revealed different morphometric patterns related to both wing shape and asymmetry supporting the hypothesis that urban areas generate more biological stress in individuals compared to the other two areas. Additionally, the findings suggest that urbanization affects the wing morphometrics of the species' anatomical landmarks, indicating possible influences of food resources, temperature, and ecological pressures on these variations. Our study enhances the understanding of morphological variations in urban pollinators as a proxy for environmental quality and can help devise strategies to mitigate the negative effects associated with increased urbanization.