Exploring the hidden riches: Recent remarkable faunistic records and range extensions in the bee fauna of Italy (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthophila)

The area sourrounding the Mediterranean basin is recognised as a major biodiversity hotspot for bees, and Italy is amongst the European countries with the highest bee species richness. Detailed knowledge of bee distribution is crucial for understanding bee biology and designing tailored conservation strategies, but is still insufficient in southern European countries, especially in Italy.We report recent finds of 48 bee species that yield significant novelties for the Italian bee fauna. Eight species, namely Andrena confinis Stöckhert, Anthidiellum breviusculum Pérez, Coelioxys alatus Foerster, Lasioglossum algericolellum Strand, Megachile lapponica Thomson, Megachile opacifrons Pérez, Megachile semicircularis auct. nec Zanden and Trachusa integra Eversmann are reported as new for Italy. In addition, Andrena binominata Smith, Andrena compta Lepeletier, Colletes acutus Pérez, Lasioglossum strictifrons Vachal, Rhodanthidium siculum Spinola and Rhodanthidium sticticum Fabricius are newly recorded from mainland Italy, Osmia heteracantha Pérez from Sardegna and Nomada flavopicta Kirby from Sicilia. We also report significant range extensions for other bee species and recent records of species that had long gone unrecorded in Italy. The combination of morphology and DNA barcoding provided reliable identifications even for the most challenging specimens. As several of our records come from areas neglected by bee experts in the past, this study stands out as a key indicator of a bee faunistic richness still awaiting discovery and hopefully it will stimulate the interest of taxonomists and stakeholders in pursuing bee research in Italy in the near future

On generic placement of Odynerus dictatorius Giordani Soika and its mimicry ring (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)

Selis, Marco (2020): On generic placement of Odynerus dictatorius Giordani Soika and its mimicry ring (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae). Zootaxa 4845 (1): 83-96, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4845.1.

Revision of the genus Polistes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in the Philippine Islands

Selis, Marco (2018): Revision of the genus Polistes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in the Philippine Islands. Zootaxa 4531 (4): 507-531, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4531.4.

A new species of Leptomenes Giordani Soika from Uganda (Hymenoptera Vespidae: Eumeninae)

Selis, Marco (2020): A new species of Leptomenes Giordani Soika from Uganda (Hymenoptera Vespidae: Eumeninae). Zootaxa 4729 (3): 440-444, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4729.3.1

Notes on the genus Epsilon de Saussure, 1855 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) with description of a new species

Selis, Marco (2017): Notes on the genus Epsilon de Saussure, 1855 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) with description of a new species. Zootaxa 4358 (1): 197-200, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4358.1.1

A new species of Masaris Fabricius from Iran (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae)

Selis, Marco (2019): A new species of Masaris Fabricius from Iran (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae). Zootaxa 4567 (2): 395-400, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4567.2.1

A new species of Stenodynerus de Saussure, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Lombok, with a key to the species from the Malay Archipelago

Selis, Marco (2019): A new species of Stenodynerus de Saussure, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Lombok, with a key to the species from the Malay Archipelago. Zootaxa 4624 (2): 283-288, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4624.2.1

A new species of the genus Stenodyneriellus from Sulawesi (Indonesia) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Eumeninae)

Stenodyneriellus rufoflavus sp. n., a new species of the genus Stenodyneriellus Giordani Soika, 1962 from Sulawesi, is described. An updating of Giordani Soika’s key to Oriental Stenodyneriellus species is provided