Using 3D modeling to evaluate body size metrics in bee ecophysiological studies

Thermal tolerance in insects is often closely linked to body size. Smaller insects, with their higher surface-area-to-volume ratios, are expected to be less thermally tolerant because they gain and lose heat more rapidly than larger ones due to increased convective heat transfer. In bees, this relationship has traditionally been examined using linear metrics, such as intertegular distance (ITD), the span between forewing insertions. In this study, we will conduct a cross-species comparison of bees from Kansas and California, representing a wide range of body sizes and life styles, to evaluate the relationship between thermal tolerance and body size. Using a novel approach that combines photogrammetry and 3D modeling, we will estimate the surface area and volume for each species. This will allow us to assess the validity and limitations of ITD as a proxy for thermally relevant body size.