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The Bees of Portugal (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)
Abstract and Figures
The present paper provides a list of records, both from literature and from recent collections, of 680 bee species from mainland Portugal. Up to 1996 there were remarkably few published records of Portuguese bees, consisting of only around 325 species.
However, in the last 15 years or so there has been a considerable amount of collecting by numerous Hymenopterists, mainly in the Algarve, as well as inspection of unpublished material housed in museums and private collections. This effort has added over 300 species to the list. Further recording is needed, especially in the north. It is thought that the total number of bee species in Portugal could be as high as 700.
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... The specimen reported by Warncke (1992c) is preserved in his collection and belong to H. bihamata. Hoplitis marchali is present in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, and Sicily (Warncke 1992c;Baldock et al. 2018). ...
Corsica stands as one of the largest Mediterranean Islands and has been the exploration ground for renowned entomologists like Charles Ferton. However, no synthesis on Corsican bees has been published so far. To fill this gap in knowledge, we propose an overview of the megachilid bee fauna of the island based on fieldwork, a thorough examination of material housed at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN, Paris), data compilation from various collections and a comprehensive review of existing literature. We reviewed 5,886 specimens and we extracted 279 additional data from literature sources. These data confirm the presence in Corsica of 91 species of which two are endemic, including Hoplitis corsaria (Warncke, 1991) which is elevated to species rank stat. nov. One new synonymy is established: Megachile lucidifrons Ferton, syn. nov. of Megachile albocristata Smith, 1853. The presence in Corsica of 19 species is regarded as dubious or erroneous. Finally, the types of Megachilid bees housed at MNHN and described based on Corsican material are illustrated. Lectotypes are designated for Megachile sicula var. corsica Benoist, 1935, Osmia corsica Ferton, 1901, Osmia erythrogastra Ferton, 1905, Osmia lanosa Pérez, 1879, and Osmia lineola Pérez, 1895.
... Label information from Ian Cross reports that a male specimen was collected at an aggregation of Melitturga caudata Pérez, 1879 (Andrenidae), on the sand near empty snail shells. Chrysis phryne has been reported to attack Osmia (Allosmia) melanura Morawitz, 1871 (see Pauli et al. (2019) (Baldock et al. 2018). We suggest that O. rufohirta is the likely host of C. crossi, though this must be confirmed through direct observations. ...
Background
DNA barcoding technologies have provided a powerful tool for the fields of ecology and systematics. Here, we present a part of the InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: contribution to the knowledge on DNA barcodes of cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) dataset representing 144 specimens and 103 species, covering approximately 44% of the Iberian and 21% of the European fauna. The InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI – DNA Barcoding Portuguese terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity) aims to fill the barcoding gap for the terrestrial invertebrate taxa. All DNA extractions are deposited in the IBI collection at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources and specimens are deposited in the University of Mons collection (Belgium) and in the Natur- Museum in Lucerne (Switzerland).
New information
This dataset increases the knowledge on the DNA barcodes and distribution of 102 species of cuckoo wasps. A total of 52 species, from 11 different genera, were new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), with DNA barcodes for another 44 species added from under-represented taxa in BOLD. All specimens have their DNA barcodes publicly accessible through the BOLD online database. Nine cuckoo wasp species are newly recorded for Portugal. Additionally, two new species for science are described: Chrysis crossi Rosa, sp. nov. from southern Portugal and Hedychridium calcarium Rosa, sp. nov. from eastern Spain. Several taxonomic changes are proposed and Hedychrum rutilans Dahlbom, 1845 is found to consist of two different taxa that can be found in sympatry, Hedychrum rutilans s. str. and Hedychrum viridaureum Tournier, 1877 stat. nov. Stilbum westermanni Dahlbom, 1845 stat. nov. is confirmed as distinct from Stilbum calens (Fabricius, 1781), with the latter species not confirmed as present in Iberia; barcoded Stilbum material from Australia is distinct and represents Stilbum amethystium (Fabricius, 1775) sp. resurr.; Portuguese material identified as Hedychridium chloropygum Buysson, 1888 actually belongs to Hedychridium caputaureum Trautmann & Trautmann, 1919, the first confirmed record of this species from Iberia. Philoctetes parvulus (Dahlbom, 1845) is confirmed to be a synonym of Philoctetes punctulatus (Dahlbom, 1845). Chrysis lusitanica Bischoff, 1910 is confirmed as a valid species. Chrysis hebraeica Linsenmaier, 1959 stat. nov. is raised to species status.
... Following the work of Straka & Bogusch (2011), Dathe (in Janvier 2012) stated that the current treatment of H. stigmorhinus (Pérez, 1895), which he presumed to be a proper species, was dubious and later (Dathe et al. 2016) that a review of the group was needed. H. praenotatus appears alongside H. pictus in several recent checklists (Baldock et al. 2018, Lhomme et al. 2020, Ortiz-Sánchez 2011, 2020, Kuhlmann 2021, Fidalgo et al. 2022). In the European bees red list (Nieto et al. 2014) and in a few other checklists (Michez et al. 2019, Varnava et al. 2020) the authors treated H. praenotatus, H. purpurissatus (Vachal, 1895) and H. stigmorhinus as valid species alongside H. pictus. ...
The Hylaeus gibbus species-group is a notoriously difficult group, whose nomenclature is currently confusing. To clarify the taxonomy of this species group, the most problematic types of the gibbus species-group were examined. The identity of Hylaeus pictus (Smith, 1853) is unclear. The results suggest that two species are grouped under this name in Western Europe and in North Africa: H. pictus and H. purpurissatus (Vachal, 1895), stat. rev. Twelve synonymies are established: Hylaeus praenotatus Förster, 1871 and Prosopis bicarinata Pérez, 1903, n. syn. of Hylaeus gibbus Saunders, 1850; Prosopis nigripes Pérez, 1903, synonym of Hylaeus confusus Nylander, 1852; Prosopis morawitzi Pérez, 1903, Prosopis pereziana Cockerell, 1906, Prosopis pereziana Schulz, 1906 and Prosopis punctiscuta Alfken, 1909, n. syn. of Hylaeus distinguendus Morawitz, 1876; Prosopis stigmorhina Pérez, 1895, Prosopis stigmorhina var. basalis Pérez, 895, Hylaeus denisonae Cockerell, 1931, Hylaeus denisonae ifranensis Cockerell, 1931 and Hylaeus psilurus Cockerell, 1938, n. syn. of Hylaeus purpurissatus (Vachal, 1895). Lectotypes are designated for Prosopis picta Smith, 1853, Hylaeus praenotatus Förster, H. psilurus Cockerell and Prosopis purpurissata Vachal.
Morocco is considered to be one of the main diversity hotspots of bees in the Mediterranean basin. However, this fauna remains largely understudied in both urban and natural eco-systems. Bee monitoring primarily conducted during 2023 in an urban area (i.e. Safi) has unveiled three new bee species for Morocco: Lithurgus tibialis, Tetralonia aff. lanzarotensis and Coelioxys ruficauda as well as records of 28 new bee species for the region Marrakech Safi. This work provides descriptions of the spatial distribution, the diagnostic characters, and host plants of these three species. We also take the opportunity to highlight the quality of urban areas as habitats for bees and the importance of implementating bee-friendly management practices to preserve bee species.
A bee specimen identified as Anthophora planca Pérez, 1895, from France, was discovered in collections of Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. This male specimen presents a morphology that does not conform to any of the Anthophora Latreille, 1803 species known from France, or indeed from Europe. After careful examination, it cannot be identified as Anthophora planca Pérez which is considered to be a nomen dubium (type lost), but furthermore it does not belong to any currently described species. Additional specimens of this species were collected in Morocco, Spain (Melilla) and Algeria. The new species is named Anthophora (Paramegilla) ahlamae Rasmont & Wood, n. sp. The new species is documented by numerous high-resolution photographs. Its diagnosis is compared with the near species Anthophora (Paramegilla) gallica (Dalla Torre & Friese, 1895) and A. (Paramegilla) podagra Lepeletier, 1841. DNA barcodes data are presented, allowing for confirmation of placement within the subgenus Paramegilla Friese, 1897. A detailed distribution map is provided along with ecological observations. Anthophora ahlamae n. sp. may be specialised on flowers of the genus Ballota L. (Lamiaceae).
Bees are important actors in terrestrial ecosystems and are recognised for their prominent role as pollinators. In the Iberian Peninsula, approximately 1,100 bee species are known, with nearly 100 of these species being endemic to the Peninsula. A reference collection of DNA barcodes, based on morphologically identified bee specimens, representing 514 Iberian species, was constructed. The "InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: DNA Barcodes of Iberian bees" dataset contains records of 1,059 sequenced specimens. The species of this dataset correspond to about 47% of Iberian bee species diversity and 21% of endemic species diversity. For peninsular Portugal only, the corresponding coverage is
71% and 50%. Specimens were collected between 2014 and 2022 and are deposited in the research collection of Thomas Wood (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Netherlands), in the FLOWer Lab collection at the University of Coimbra (Portugal), in the Andreia Penado collection at the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto (MHNC-UP) (Portugal) and in the InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI) reference collection (Vairão, Portugal).
Of the 514 species sequenced, 75 species from five different families are new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) and 112 new BINs were added. Whilst the majority of species were assigned to a single BIN (94.9%), 27 nominal species were assigned to multiple BINs. Although the placement into multiple BINs may simply reflect genetic diversity and variation, it likely also represents currently unrecognised species-level diversity across diverse taxa, such as Amegilla albigena Lepeletier, 1841, Andrena russula Lepeletier, 1841, Lasioglossum leucozonium (Schrank, 1781), Nomada femoralis Morawitz, 1869 and Sphecodes alternatus Smith, 1853. Further species pairs of Colletes, Hylaus and Nomada were placed into the same BINs, emphasising the need for integrative taxonomy within Iberia and across the Mediterranean Basin more broadly. These data substantially contribute to our understanding of bee genetic diversity and DNA barcodes in Iberia and provide an important baseline for ongoing taxonomic revisions in the West Palaearctic biogeographical region.
The c. 100 myr extensive fossil record of bee brood nests and cells (calichnia) in siliciclastic sedimentary deposits, or palaeosols, is virtually devoid of the presence of their producers. The absence of a more specific assignment to a producer of the different ichnogenera of the ichnofamily Celliformidae precludes their use in phylogenetic and palaeo-biogeographic studies. Omission surfaces developed in incipient carbonate palaeosols during the late Holocene (middle Neoglacial), c. 2975 yr cal BP, on the southwest coast of mainland Portugal show insect calichnia in dense ichnofab-rics dominated by shallow discrete cells (Palmiraichnus cas-tellanosi) and cells at the terminus of vertical shafts. At Carreira Brava, one of the studied sites, bees ready to abandon their cells were found in an exceptional state of preservation inside the sealed brood chambers. The chambers also preserve the inner cell hydrophobic polymerized membrane and remains of the monospecific Brassicaceae-type pollen provision. Although the cause of mass mortality remains a mystery, oxygen depletion due to sudden flooding of the nesting substrate and consequent or overnight temperature drop, just before emergence, are plausible causes. The anaer-obic conditions and later rapid carbonate diagenetic lithifica-tion are the likely causes of the preservation of the bees and the inner cell organic membrane. The favourable climate conditions for the development of successive, dense ichno-fabrics from an omission suite dominated by bee brood cells may be the result of slightly colder and higher-precipitation winters during the Neoglacial interval.
Altogether, ten species of cuckoo bees of the tribe Dioxyini have been recorded from Europe, with two species distributed widely in the continent while others are restricted in distribution to only one or several countries in southern Europe. These ten representatives are classified into five genera: Aglaoapis , Dioxys , Ensliniana , Metadioxys and Paradioxys . Dioxys atlanticus is reclassified from a subspecies to a valid species, and new occurrence records of this species are reported. New synonymy is established for Dioxys cinctus = D. montana syn. nov. The distribution, morphology, ecology and hosts of all species were reviewed from both published and unpublished sources. New red-list categories for each species were created according to the new records of occurrence. An identification key including all ten species and photographs of their whole bodies and main identification characteristics was prepared, and distribution maps for all species were created.
The Iberian Peninsula is a global hotspot for bee diversity due to its large number of different habitats, particularly Mediterranean scrubland, mountains, and hot and cold steppe. In line with its status as a hotspot of bee diversity, the peninsula hosts a very large Andrena fauna, which despite progress in recent years remains incompletely studied, particularly with reference to genetic investigation. Here the Iberian Andrena fauna is comprehensively revised, resulting in a total of 228 recorded species. Numerous taxonomic changes are necessary following inspection of museum specimens, type material, and genetic investigation. The following subgenera are described: Pruinosandrena subgen. nov. , containing six taxa previously placed in the subgenus Campylogaster Dours, 1873, and Blandandrena subgen. nov. , Bryandrena subgen. nov. , Limbandrena subgen. nov. , and Ovandrena subgen. nov. , containing one, one, one, and four taxa previously placed in the subgenus Poliandrena Warncke, 1968. Andrena (Limbandrena) toelgiana Friese, 1921 syn. nov. is synonymised with A. (Limbandrena) limbata Eversmann, 1852. The current lectotype of A. (Micrandrena) obsoleta Pérez, 1895 was incorrectly designated by Warncke; the taxon differs from A. obsoleta sensu Warncke, belonging instead to a taxon within the A. mariana Warncke, 1968 complex. A new lectotype is designated for A. obsoleta sp. resurr. from Algeria, and A. mariana solda Warncke, 1974 syn. nov. is synonymised with it; A. (Micrandrena) alma Warncke, 1975 stat. nov. , A. (Micrandrena) mica Warncke, 1974 stat. nov. , and A. (Micrandrena) tenostra Warncke, 1975 stat. nov. are raised to species status. Andrena (Truncandrena) abunda Warncke, 1974 stat. nov. , A. (Micrandrena) lecana Warncke, 1975 stat. nov. , A. (Pruinosandrena) parata Warncke, 1967 stat. nov. , A. (Micrandrena) pauxilla Stöckhert, 1935 sp. resurr. , A. (Pruinosandrena) succinea Dours, 1872 sp. resurr. , and A. (Notandrena) varuga Warncke, 1975 stat. nov. are also returned or elevated to species status. A lectotype is designated for A. (Euandrena) lavandulae Pérez, 1902 sp. resurr. which is returned to species status, and A. (Euandrena) impressa Warncke, 1967 syn. nov. is synonymised with it. Andrena (Truncandrena) nigropilosa Warncke, 1967 stat. nov. is elevated to species status, and A. (Truncandrena) truncatilabris espanola Warncke, 1967 syn. nov. is synonymised with it as a junior subjective synonym. A lectotype is designated for A. (Melandrena) vachali Pérez, 1895; A. (Melandrena) creberrima Pérez, 1895 syn. nov. and A. (Melandrena) vachali syn. nov. are synonymised with A. (Melandrena) discors Erichson, 1841, and Andrena (Melandrena) hispania Warncke, 1967 syn. nov. is synonymised with A. (Melandrena) morio Brullé, 1832. Andrena (Pruinosandrena) mayeti Pérez, 1895 syn. nov. is newly synonymised with A. (Pruinosandrena) caroli Pérez, 1895 and A. (incertae sedis) setosa Pérez, 1903 syn. nov. is newly synonymised with A. (incertae sedis) ranunculorum Morawitz, 1877. Andrena (Simandrena) cilissaeformis Pérez, 1895 sp. resurr. is returned to species status, and is the correct name for A. (Simandrena) breviscopa auctorum. Andrena (incertae sedis) breviscopa Pérez, 1895 is returned to synonymy with A. (incertae sedis) numida Lepeletier, 1841, and A. (incertae sedis) inconspicua Morawitz, 1871 is newly synonymised syn. nov. with A. numida . Andrena (Euandrena) isolata sp. nov. and A. (Micrandrena) ortizi sp. nov. are described from the Sierra Nevada (Granada), A. (Truncandrena) ghisbaini sp. nov. is described from Málaga province, and A. (Avandrena) juliae sp. nov. is described from Cádiz province. The males of A. (Micrandrena) alma and A. (? Euandrena ) ramosa Wood, 2022 are described. Additional lectotypes are designated for A. (Plastandrena) asperrima Pérez, 1895, A. (Plastandrena) atricapilla Pérez, 1895, A. (Aenandrena) hystrix Schmiedeknecht, 1883, A. (Pruinosandrena) lanuginosa Spinola, 1843, A. (Notandrena) ranunculi Schmiedeknecht, 1883, and A. (Euandrena) symphyti Schmiedeknecht, 1883. Neotypes are designated for A. (Chlorandrena) boyerella Dours, 1872, A. (Notandrena) griseobalteata Dours, 1872, A. (Taeniandrena) poupillieri Dours, 1872, A. (Pruinosandrena) succinea Dours, 1872, and A. (incertae sedis) numida Lepeletier, 1841. Type photographs and diagnostic characters are presented in each case, as well as new dietary information for understudied species. Finally, an identification key is presented in order to facilitate future research on this hyper-diverse genus in one of their global diversity hotspots, and current and future research perspectives for Iberian Andrena are discussed.
Revisionary taxonomic studies of bees from the Old World Mediterranean basin are hindered both by the apparent absence of type material for many taxa and a lack of genetic resources. The discovery of important type materials in combination with the generation of novel DNA barcodes (Cytochrome Oxidase I) has allowed cryptic diversity within the widespread taxa Nomiapis bispinosa (Brullé, 1832) and Systropha planidens Giraud, 1861 to be clarified. Nomiapis bispinosa actually consists of three distinct taxa: Nomiapis bispinosa s. str. from Morocco and Iberia to Central Asia, Nomiapis rufiventris (Spinola, 1838) spec. resurr. from Morocco to Egypt, including Sicily and Nomiapis paulyi spec. nov. from Portugal and Spain. A lectotype is designated for Nomia rufiventris Spinola, 1838. Lectotypes are designated for Nomia bispinosa Brullé, 1832 and Nomia albocincta Lucas, 1849, and type material for Nomia perforata Lucas, 1849 is clarified; both Nomiapis albocincta and Nomiapis perforata are synonymised syn. nov. with Nomiapis rufiventris. A lectotype is designated for Nomia ruficornis Spinola, 1838, and this taxon is confirmed as a synonym of Nomiapis bispinosa. Systropha planidens also consists of three distinct taxa: S. planidens from Central Europe to Iran and the European part of Russia, S. grandimargo Pérez, 1905 spec. resurr. from Portugal, Spain, and France, and S. anatolica Warncke, 1977 stat. nov. from Turkey, Syria, and northern Israel. A lectotype is designated for Systropha planidens Giraud, 1861. Systropha chrysura Pérez, 1905 is synonymised syn. nov. with S. grandimargo. These findings illustrate the extent to which our understanding of the taxonomy of Mediterranean bees remains incomplete.
The osmiine bee species Hoplitis mucida is considered to consist of two subspecies with H. mucida mucida (Dours, 1873) ranging from northwestern Africa to Israel and Jordan and H. mucida stecki (Frey-Gessner, 1908) occurring in southwestern Europe and Sicily. The discovery of nests of H. mucida in Morocco and Tunisia revealed striking differences in the nesting biology of the two subspecies. In North Africa, females construct fully exposed, cake-like nests of mud on the flat surface of rocks and stones containing 8–12 vertically oriented brood cells, rendering these nests unique among osmiine bees regarding both nesting site and nest architecture. In contrast, in Europe females build their few-celled mud nests inside small rock cavities. This discrepancy in the nesting biology is paralleled by considerable morphological differences between the two subspecies suggestive of a long geographical isolation. Due to these biological and morphological differences, we propose to elevate the European subspecies H. mucida stecki to species rank.
The present study is an update to the first Red List of European Bees published in 2014. The additional records are based on (i) comprehensive review of literature; (ii) new data provided by bee specialists in response to the publication of the first Red List; (iii) new developments in taxonomy of European bees including description of new cryptic species; (iv) new specimens from recent field collections. While the first Red List included a list of 1965 wild bee species with 75 genera, we found 86 additional species, while two more genera have been erected (Seladonia and Vestitohalictus), giving an updated total of 2051 species and 77 genera. The authors discuss the artificial framework of the study considered by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to produce the first Red List and they propose the more meaningful West Palaearctic biogeographical region. For this whole region, a first estimation gives 3408 wild bee species in 105 genera. The next taxa have been erected from subspecies to species status: Andrena (Euandrena) limosa Warncke, 1969, stat. n., Andrena (Plastandrena) oligotricha Mavromoustakis, 1952, stat. n.
Camptopoeum (Camptopoeum) baldocki spec. nov., a new European panurgine bee species is described and diagnosed. It is currently known only from saltmarshes along the southern coast of the central and eastern Algarve, Portugal. Observations and analysis of scopal pollen loads suggest narrow oligolecty on the similarly halophilous Frankenia laevis (Frankeniaceae). In addition, the allotype male of the Portuguese endemic Flavipanurgus fuzetus Patiny is described and the pollen preferences of Flavipanurgus are reviewed with the addition of new data from Portugal. As a genus, Flavipanurgus species appear to be narrowly oligolectic on a range of flowers from the botanical families Caryophyllaceae, Cistaceae and Crassulaceae.
RESUMEN El trabajo actual trata de los integrantes ibéricos de la familia Melittidae. Incluye la lista sinonímica de los taxones que componen esta fauna, así como, en cada una de las especies estudiadas, la distribución geográfica, el material revisado necesario para la discusión y, por lo tanto, para la confirmación o rechazo de las citas bibliográficas existentes hasta el presente, de igual modo que se pormenorizan los nuevos registros, tanto procedentes de capturas recientes como de material depositado en diferentes instituciones. La fauna ibérica de Melittidae está constituida por 3 subfamilias: Melittinae, Macropidinae y Dasypodinae; 3 géneros: Melitta, con 11 especies, Macropis, con 2 es-pecies, y Dasypoda, con 10 especies, que hacen un total de 23, correspondientes a 25 subespecies.
ABSTRACT Contribution to the knowledge of Iberian Melittidae. This paper deals with Iberian Melittidae. In every species, besides its geographical distribution, it includes the literature records that were mistaken or doubtful in order to confirm or correct them. The studied specimens, the new records and a checklist are included too. Three subfamilies belong to Iberian Melittidae: Melittinae, Macropidinae and Dasypodinae; 3 genera: Melitta, with 11 species, Macropis, with 2 species and Dasypoda, with 10 species, It results a total of 25 subspecies, belonging to 23 species.
Extreme specialization is a common phenomenon in antagonistic biotic interactions but it is quite rare in mutualistic ones. Indeed, bee specialization on a single flower species (monolecty) is a questioned fact. Here, we provide multiple lines of evidence on true monolecty in a solitary bee (Flavipanurgus venustus, Andrenidae), which is consistent across space (18 sites in SW Iberian Peninsula) and time (three years) despite the presence of closely related congeneric plant species whose flowers are morphologically similar. The host flower (Cistus crispus, Cistaceae) is in turn a supergeneralist, visited by at least 85 insect species. We uncover ultraviolet light reflectance as a distinctive visual cue of the host flower, which can be a key mechanism because bee specialization has an innate basis to recognize specific signals. Moreover, we hypothesized that a total dependence on an ephemeral resource (i.e. one flower species) must lead to spatiotemporal matching with it. Accordingly, we prove that the bee’s flight phenology is synchronized with the blooming period of the host flower, and that the densities of bee populations mirror the local densities of the host flower. This case supports the ‘predictable plethora’ hypothesis, that is, that host-specialization in bees is fostered by plant species providing predictably abundant floral resources. Our findings, along with available phylogenetic information on the genus Cistus, suggest the importance of historical processes and cognitive constraints as drivers of specialization in bee-plant interactions.
Changes in agricultural practice across Europe and North America have been associated with declines in wild bee populations. Bee diet breadth has been associated with sensitivity to agricultural intensification, but much of this analysis has been conducted at the categorical level of generalist or specialist, and it is not clear to what extent the level of generalisation within generalist species is also associated with species persistence. We used pollen load analysis to quantify the pollen diets of wild solitary bees on 19 farms across southern England, UK. A total of 72 species of solitary bees were recorded, but only 31 species were abundant enough to allow for formal diet characterisation. The results broadly conformed to existing literature with the majority of species polylectic and collecting pollen from a wide range of plants. Pollen load analysis consistently identified pollens from more plant species and families from each bee species than direct observation of their foraging behaviour. After rarefaction to standardise pollen load sample sizes, diet breadth was significantly associated with frequency of occurrence, with more generalist bees present on more farms than less generalist bees. Our results show that the majority of bee species present on farmland in reasonable numbers are widely variable in their pollen choices, but that those with the broadest diet were present on the greatest number of farms. Increasing the diversity of plants included in agri-environment schemes may be necessary to provide a wider range of pollen resources in order to support a diverse bee community on farmland.
Two new species of small carpenter bees are described from the West Palaearctic region: Ceratina zwakhalsi from South-East Turkey (compared with C. acuta Friese, C. callosa (Fabricius) and C. chalybea Chevrier) andCeratina verhoeffi from Morocco (compared with C. saundersi Daly and C. maghrebensis Daly). Distribution maps are given for all the threated species. Ceratina saundersi is recorded for the first time from Portugal, the Lampedusa island (south of Sicily), the Italian peninsula and Lybia. The occurence of C. saundersi in Sardinia and Spain is confirmed.
The loss of key forage plants and a narrow pollen diet have both been implicated in the decline of wild bees over the past 70 years. These ideas have been studied extensively in recent years in bumblebees (Bombus spp.), but have rarely been investigated in other bee groups, due in part to a lack of detailed ecological data for many species of wild bee. Chambers (1968) extensively documented pollen preferences in bees from the genus Andrena collected in Bedfordshire, UK, during the 1940s, before the period of rapid agricultural intensification following the Second World War. This extensive dataset allows for the importance of diet breadth in modifying the response of bees to environmental change to be investigated in a common and widespread but understudied genus of bees. We compared the pollen preferences of a suite of Andrena species collected in the 1941-1949 period with a similar suite of Andrena species collected between 1985 and 2016. Relative diet breadth was consistent across studied species between the historical and contemporary period. However, dietary composition changed with a shift away from Rosaceae and towards Brassicaceae. The reduction in the collection of Rosaceae pollen was more pronounced in spring-flying than summer-flying Andrena, which may be due to a reduction in the length and quality of hedgerow habitats and hence spring-flowering woody Rosaceae present in the countryside, and an increase in the availability of the mass-flowering crop oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Both historical and contemporary diet breadth were significant positive predictors of how frequently Andrena species are encountered on contemporary farmland, with those species with a relatively wider diet present on the majority of farms. These findings support the idea that inherent differences in diet breadth mediate the ability of bee species to respond to changes in resource availability resulting from agricultural intensification. A more detailed understanding of species-level characteristics can help improve our understanding of why seemingly similar species respond very differently to environmental change.