European region in 2022

editorial reviewe

European region in 2021

editorial reviewe

From red list assessment to action plan, the case of Teasel-plant specialised Bees in Europe

peer reviewedWild bees are known to represent the most important pollinator group of wild plants and crops (Ollerton, 2017). Approximately 2,000 wild bee species occur in Europe, 9% of which are classified as threatened, but more than half of them are classified as Data Deficient as a consequence of lack of information (Nieto et al., 2014). Due to the importance of wild bees as pollinators, there is a strong need for conservation action. Conservation projects for wild bees are still scarce and focus either on large bumble bee species, or on untargeted action, such as the creation of bee hotels or flower strips. While these actions may benefit some bee species, they are usually not sufficiently specific to improve or restore populations of highly threatened bee species. Many wild bee species are strongly specialised on specific pollen sources and require appropriate nesting sites (Westrich, 2018). The lack of their food plants is a key constraint. Wild bees specialised on teasel plants (Dipsacoideae, such as Scabiosa, Knautia, Cephalaria, etc.) are at particular risk of extinction. Most teasel plants flower in summer and thus they provide nectar and pollen not only for specialised wild bees, but also for many other pollinators and flower visitors. Grassland rich in teasel plants is not only a habitat of high ecological importance, but also of high aesthetic value, providing a colourful scene and indicating species-rich landscapes. We will present in this talk how we developed in Europe the basis for a Conservation Action Plan for these wild bee species, including the Dark Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda braccata), the Spiny Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda spinigera), the Swollen Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda suripes), the Silvery Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda argentata), the Large Scabious Mining Bee (Andrena hattorfiana) and the Scabious Resin Bee (Trachusa interrupta), four of which are classified as Endangered on the European Red List and two as Near Threatened. These species are considered umbrella species for the conservation of teasel-plant rich grassland communities. For each of these species, a comprehensive review of the known information on taxonomy and systematics, biology and ecology, functions and values, historical and current distribution and demography, habitat and resource availability and threats was provided. We also identified the major knowledge gaps and necessary conservation action for these wild bee species.5454 - H2020 SAFEGUARD - Safeguarding European wild pollinators - Sources publiques européennes15. Life on lan

Book review: The Bumblebees of the Himalaya – An Identification Guide, by Paul H. Williams

Book review: The Bumblebees of the Himalaya – An Identification Guide, by Paul H. William

Dasypoda morawitzi RADCHENKO 2016 (Apoidea - Melittidae - Dasypodaini), une espèce nouvelle pour la faune de France

peer reviewedDrift in European bumblebee communities - Fédération Wallonie Bruxelle

Redescription of three rare species of Dasypoda bees with designation of D. vulpecula neotype and first description of D. iberica and D. tibialis females (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Melittidae)

peer reviewe

Towards unbiased interpretations of interactive effects in ecotoxicological studies

peer reviewedEcotoxicological research has increasingly focused on the interactive effects of chemical mixtures on biological models, emphasising additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions. However, these combination studies often test chemicals at unique concentrations (e.g. x:y), limiting our understanding of the effects across the full spectrum of possible combinations. Evidence from human toxicology suggests that interactive effects among chemicals can vary significantly with total concentration (e.g. x:y vs. 2x:2y), their ratio (e.g. x:2y vs. 2x:y), and the magnitude of the tested effect (e.g. LC10vs. LC50). Our non-exhaustive review of studies on binary mixtures in bee ecotoxicology reveals that such parameters are frequently neglected. Of the 60 studies we examined, only two utilised multiple total concentrations and ratios, thus exploring a broad range of possible combinations. In contrast, 26 studies tested only a single concentration of each chemical, resulting in incomplete interpretations of the potential interactive effects. Other studies utilised various concentrations and/or ratios but failed to capture a broad spectrum of possible combinations. We also discuss potential discrepancies in interactive effects based on different metrics and exposure designs. We advocate for future ecotoxicological studies to investigate a wider spectrum of chemical combinations, including various concentrations and ratios, and to address different levels of effects

A new case of gynandromorphism in the Halictus simplex species group (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

peer reviewe

Wildlife conservation strategies should incorporate both taxon identity and geographical context - further evidence with bumblebees

peer reviewedAim: Among the numerous anthropogenic pressures threatening biodiversity, habitat destruction and climate change are pointed to as dominant. In response, a number of mitigation strategies are elaborated to save endangered living organisms. However, the taxonomic level and geographical extent at which conservation strategies should be designed and implemented remain generally unclear. Here, we aim to assess and discuss the importance to apply conservation strategies at an appropriate taxonomic scale. For this purpose, we focus our analyses on bumblebees (genus Bombus), a group of critically important and endangered pollinators. Location: West-Palaearctic. Methods: We use a species distribution modelling approach to investigate and compare climatic and habitat-related variables associated with the distribution of West- Palaearctic bumblebees. Our analyses are based on a data set gathering more than 125,000 unique observation points for 68 species. Results: We highlight species-specific associations with climatic and land cover variables, depicting the strong relevance of taxon-specific mitigation strategies for the conservation of those key pollinators. We also identify that the occurrence probability of localized and widespread species is mostly predicted by specific land cover characteristics and climatic conditions, respectively. Finally, we report the general absence of phylogenetic signal associated with the relative importance of each environmental variable in species distribution models, underlining the difficulty to predict species-specific environmental requirements based on evolutionary relationships. Main conclusions: In the light of these results, we conclude that climate change and landscape destruction are not expected to drive the fate of all bumblebee species in a same direction, even for phylogenetically close lineages. We argue in favour of geographically and taxonomically adapted conservation strategies and discuss the limitations of untargeted action plans for species with different climatic/habitat requirements.Drift in European bumblebee communities - Fédération Wallonie Bruxelle

Unexpected discovery of a near cryptic Dasypoda species in southern Spain (Hymenoptera: Melittidae)

peer reviewedA new species of pantaloon bee, Dasypoda (Heterodasypoda) radchenkoi Ghisbain & Wood sp. nov., is described from both males and females collected in the limestone mountains of south-western Spain. COI barcodes show an important differentiation from D. morotei Quilis, 1928 of approximately 9.6% but the morphological divergence between the two species is extremely low. Dasypoda radchenkoi sp. nov. is the fifth species of Heterodasypoda found in Iberia, further confirming the peninsula as the center of diversity for the subgenus