Urbanisation reduced body size but potentially improved flight performance in bees and wasps

• Published in: Basic and applied ecology Vol. 74; pp. 57 - 65
• Main Authors: Ferrari, Andrea, Tommasi, Nicola, Polidori, Carlo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 01.02.2024
• Subjects: applied ecology; asymmetry; Body size; digger bees; ecosystems; flight; Halictus; Italy; land use change; Osmia cornuta; paper wasps; Polistes dominula; species; temperature; Urbanisation; urbanization; vegetation; Wasps; Wild bees; Wing morphology; Italy

Urbanisation is a main driver of land-use change, leading to rising in temperatures and fragmentation and reduction of green areas. Bees and wasps, which are important insect groups due to the ecosystem services they provide, may respond to this disturbance via changes in morphological traits which...