Using infrared thermography to understand the thermal ecology of wild bumblebees
Abstract
: As global warming intensifies, pollinators such as bumblebees may experience increasing exposure to temperatures near their thermal limits. Heat stress impairs foraging and survival, making it essential to understand bumblebee body temperature in natural conditions. This study tested the feasibility of using infrared (IR) thermography as a non-invasive technique to measure the thoracic temperature of wild, foraging bumblebees and to evaluate how body temperature relates to environmental variables, including ambient air and floral surface temperatures. Thermographic measurements were validated against internal thoracic temperatures recorded by thermocouples in static bees, revealing a strong correlation ( r = 0.98) with an average absolute difference of
Fields of Study & Subjects
Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
Physiological and biochemical adaptations
Insect and Pesticide Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Thermal Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 136
- Pages
- 104423–104423
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN