Size and shape in Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera; Meliponini)

Abstract

This study aimed to identify differences in wing shape among populations of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides obtained in 23 locations in the semi-arid region of Bahia state (Brazil). Analysis of the Procrustes distances among mean wing shapes indicated that population structure did not determine shape variation. Instead, populations were structured geographically according to wing size. The Partial Mantel Test between morphometric (shape and size) distance matrices and altitude, taking geographic distances into account, was used for a more detailed understanding of size and shape determinants. A partial Mantel test between morphometris (shape and size) variation and altitude, taking geographic distances into account, revealed that size (but not shape) is largely influenced by altitude (r = 0.54 p < 0.01). These results indicate greater evolutionary constraints for the shape variation, which must be directly associated with aerodynamic issues in this structure. The size, however, indicates that the bees tend to have larger wings in populations located at higher altitudes.Keywords: stingless bee, Meliponini, altitude, partial correlation, geometric morphometrics.Tamanho e Forma em Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera; Meliponini) ResumoEste trabalho avaliou a divergência de forma entre populações de Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides, utilizando caracteres morfométricos em 23 localidades da região semi-árida do estado da Bahia (Brasil). As análises das distâncias de Procrustes entre as formas médias das asas indicaram que não há estruturação populacional para a variação dessa estrutura. Entretanto, nossas análises demonstraram que as populações estavam estruturadas geograficamente pelo tamanho das asas. O teste parcial de Mantel entre matrizes de distâncias morfométricas (forma e tamanho) e altitude, levando em conta as distâncias geográficas, foi utilizado para uma compreensão mais detalhada dos determinantes de tamanho e forma. O teste de Mantel entre as variações morfométricas (forma e tamanho) e altitude, tendo em conta as distâncias geográficas, revelou que o tamanho (mas não a forma) é amplamente influenciado pela altitude (r = 0,54 p < 0,01). Tais resultados indicam maiores restrições evolutivas para a variação de forma, o que deve estar diretamente associado às questões aerodinâmicas dessa estrutura. O tamanho, por outro lado, indica que as abelhas estudadas tendem a apresentar asas maiores nas populações localizadas em regiões de maior altitude.Palavras-chave: abelhas sem ferrão, altitude, correlação parcial, Meliponini, morfometria geométrica.

Variation of fore wing shape in Melipona mandacaia Smith, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) along its geographic range

“…reduced genetic variation). Moreover, previous reports have shown that fore wing size and shape of some Melipona species are influenced by both geographic distance and altitude, like that observed in M. scutellaris Latreille (Nunes et al 2007), M. quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier (Nunes et al 2013) and M. subnitida Duke (Lima et al 2014). Nonetheless, no significant morphometric differences were observed in M. mandacaia in relation to altitude (p>0.05), but both fore wing size and shape were correlated to geographic distance (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively).…”

Population Structure of Melipona subnitida Ducke (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) at the Southern Limit of its Distribution Based on Geometric Morphometrics of Forewings

“…Studies on population structure and geographic variation of bees have been carried out based on morphometric data comparing races or populations (Ferreira et al, 2011;Lima Junior et al, 2012;Nunes et al, 2013). Those analyses are usually based on wing characters due to their high heritability and because they are strongly affected by the environment (Diniz-Filho & Bini, 1994).…”

Geometric morphometrics of the forewing shape and size discriminate Plebeia species (Hymenoptera: Apidae) nesting in different substrates

“…Here, we extracted 12 landmarks from the FW of six Plebeia species. Nevertheless, historically, entomologists have obtained seven to 20 LMs from bee wings, depending of bold venation and its capacity to clearly discern as much as possible the homologous anatomical marks (Aytekin et al, 2007;Combey et al, 2013;Nunes et al, 2013;Falamarzi et al, 2016;Francoy et al, 2016;Prado-Silva et al, 2018). Further, other insect structures, such as genitalia, mandibles and head, are adequate attributes but are rarely used in GM for evaluating morphological variation in bees (Tatsuta et al, 2018).…”