<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Honey bee (<italic>Apis mellifera</italic>) wing measurements are often used to discriminate lineages and subspecies. The precision and repeatability of the measurements depends on various factors, including seasonal variation, and differences between left and right wings. The seasonal variation of the cubital index, which is the proportion of two vein lengths, has been investigated, but subspecies can be identified through geometric morphometrics. This method allows both wing size and shape to be determined and analyzed separately. We studied changes in the wing size and shape in consecutive months between June and September as well as the differences between the left and right wings. We found that wing size differed significantly among colonies, months and body sides, but shape differed significantly only among colonies and months but not among body sides. There was also a complicated pattern of interactions between various factors. The seasonal differences in wing shape were much smaller than the differences among colonies and their influence on identification of honey bee lineages was relatively small.</p>
</abstract>

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) wing measurements are often used to discriminate lineages and subspecies. The precision and repeatability of the measurements depends on various factors, including seasonal variation, and differences between left and right wings. The seasonal variation of the cubital index, which is the proportion of two vein lengths, has been investigated, but subspecies can be identified through geometric morphometrics. This method allows both wing size and shape to be determined and analyzed separately. We studied changes in the wing size and shape in consecutive months between June and September as well as the differences between the left and right wings. We found that wing size differed significantly among colonies, months and body sides, but shape differed significantly only among colonies and months but not among body sides. There was also a complicated pattern of interactions between various factors. The seasonal differences in wing shape were much smaller than the differences among colonies and their influence on identification of honey bee lineages was relatively small.

Monthly Changes in Honey Bee Forewings Estimated Using Geometric Morphometrics

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Monthly Changes in Honey Bee Forewings Estimated Using Geometric Morphometrics"}

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) wing measurements are often used to discriminate lineages and subspecies. The precision and repeatability of the measurements...

Monthly Changes in Honey Bee Forewings Estimated Using Geometric Morphometrics

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Mar 03, 2021

Page range: 139 - 146

Received: Jun 17, 2020

Accepted: Oct 27, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2021-0002

Keywords
forewing, geometric morphometrics, shape, size

© 2021 Anna Janczyk et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Monthly Changes in Honey Bee Forewings Estimated Using Geometric Morphometrics

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Mar 03, 2021

Page range: 139 - 146

Received: Jun 17, 2020

Accepted: Oct 27, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2021-0002

Keywordsforewing, geometric morphometrics, shape, size

© 2021 Anna Janczyk et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
forewing, geometric morphometrics, shape, size