Morphometric characteristics of the endemic stingless bee Wallacetrigona incisa at different altitudes in North Luwu, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Rahman A, Nuraeni S, Sadapotto A, Prastiyo A. 2026. Morphometric characteristics of the endemic stingless bee Wallacetrigona incisa at different altitudes in North Luwu, Indonesia. Asian J For 10 (1): r100105. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjfor/r100105. The endemic stingless bee Wallacetrigona incisa is one of the important pollinator species in the Wallacea Region, contributing to the pollination of forest and agricultural plants. However, information regarding its morphological variations remains very limited, particularly in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This study provides a novel approach to examining the morphometric characteristics of W. incisa as a basis for understanding its morphology. This research aimed to analyze the differences in morphometric traits of W. incisa at three altitudinal levels in North Luwu. Sampling was conducted purposively at lowland, midland, and highland sites with a total of 90 individual bees. Data analysis included One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to determine relationships and grouping patterns among morphometric traits. ANOVA results showed that altitude had a significant effect (p<0.05) on several key morphometric traits, including Body Length (BL), Malar Length (ML), Hind Femur Length (HFL), and Hind Tibia Width (HTW), with the largest mean body size observed in highland populations. Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among several morphometric traits, particularly between body size and hind leg dimensions (r>0.70, p<0.05). PCA indicated that morphometric traits cluster according to altitudinal groups, suggesting structured variation by altitude and morphological potential. PC1 covers 38.45% of the variation in bee morphometric data, while PC2 covers 12.55%. Average body size increases with height, indicating a morphological response to altitudinal and environmental differences. This study provides a scientific basis for considering elevation variations in North Luwu, thus supporting the determination of key habitats and efforts to maintain endemic stingless populations.

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