Climate stress can give bumblebees asymmetrical wings, study finds

The scientists found that bees showed higher levels of wing asymmetry in hotter and wetter years. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Bumblebees have become increasingly stressed by changes in climate over the past century, researchers examining museum specimens have found.

Bees develop asymmetrical wings when they experience stress during development, and by examining a series of preserved specimens and their dates, the scientists found bees showed higher levels of wing asymmetry in hotter and wetter years.