National records of 3000 European bee and hoverfly species: A contribution to pollinator conservation

Abstract

Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non‐native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation.

Ecological amplitude and indication potential of mining bees (Andrena spp.): a case study from the post-agricultural area of the Kampinos National Park (Poland)

“…There are still many gaps in knowledge about the species diversity of wild bees in key regions of the world, including Europe, especially its southern and eastern parts 79 . Current data suggests that fewer wild bee species are present in Poland than in neighbouring Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia or Ukraine 80 ; however, this number will probably increase with further intensive research (e.g. 81 , 82 ).…”

“…It should be stressed that more than 55% of all European known species of bees were described as ‘Data Deficient’ in the first, and only, IUCN Red List for the continent 29 . These understudied species should be prioritised in future sampling programmes, and in general, more taxonomic work is needed to provide a better understanding of their ecology, biogeography and conservation status 80 .…”

Unveiling the Mainland vs. Insular Variability of the Eumerus barbarus Species Group (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the Western Mediterranean Basin

“…The Mediterranean basin hosts a high taxonomic diversity of hoverflies [51], but some genera, like Eumerus (e.g., [4,10]), are still understudied. The E. barbarus group is not an exception as other new species have been recently recorded in the Mediterranean area [52,53].…”

Insect floral visitors of thermo-Mediterranean shrubland maquis (Ajaccio, Corsica, France)

“…In mainland France, a country with a large diversity of landscapes, it is estimated that more than 20,000 insect species feed in flowers ( I.P.B.E.S. 2016 , Reverté 2023 ) with a highest richness in the south, the Mediterranean Region, a biodiversity hotspot ( Mittermeier et al 2004 ).…”