Specimen of recent bee species, Leioproctus zephyr. Credit score: Curtin College
A brand new native bee species with a dog-like “snout” has been found within the Perth bushland of Western Australia. It was recognized via Curtin College-led analysis that sheds new gentle on our most necessary pollinators.
Dr. Equipment Prendergast, from the Curtin College of Molecular and Life Sciences, named the brand new species after her pet canine Zephyr after noticing a protruding a part of the insect’s face regarded much like a canine’s snout. The title additionally acknowledges the position her canine performed in offering emotional help throughout her PhD. Dr. Prendergast is the writer of a paper on the invention that was printed on October 31 within the Journal of Hymenoptera Analysis.
In accordance with Dr. Prendergast, the uncommon and noteworthy discovering would add to present information about our evolving biodiversity. It could additionally make sure the bees, named Leioproctus zephyr, had been protected by conservation efforts.
“Once I first examined the specimens that I collected throughout my PhD surveys discovering the biodiversity of native bees in urbanized areas of the southwest WA biodiversity hotspot, I used to be immediately intrigued by the bee’s very uncommon face,” Dr. Prendergast mentioned.
Specimen of recent bee species, Leioproctus zephyr. Credit score: Curtin College
“Once I went to determine it, I discovered it matched no described species, and I used to be certain that if it was a recognized species, it will be fairly simple to determine given how uncommon it was in look.
“You’ll be able to solely verify a selected species when you have a look at them beneath a microscope and undergo the lengthy strategy of attempting to match their traits towards different recognized species, then going via museum collections.
“When perusing the WA Museum’s Entomology assortment, I found that a couple of specimens of Leioproctus zephyrus had first been collected in 1979, however it had by no means been scientifically described.”
Dr. Prendergast mentioned she was excited to play a task in making this species recognized and formally naming them.
“Bugs typically are so numerous and so necessary, but we don’t have scientific descriptions or names for therefore lots of them,” Dr. Prendergast mentioned.
“The Leioproctus zephyr has a extremely restricted distribution, solely occurring in seven places throughout the southwest WA to this point, and haven’t been collected from their unique location. They had been totally absent from residential gardens and solely current at 5 city bushland remnants that I surveyed, the place they foraged on two plant species of Jacksonia.
“Not solely is that this species fussy, in addition they have a clypeus that appears like a snout. Therefore, I named them after my canine Zephyr. She has been so necessary to my psychological well being and well-being throughout the difficult interval of doing a PhD and past.”
Dr. Prendergast was capable of verify that the brand new species was most intently associated to different species of unidentified Leioproctus via DNA barcoding.
Reference: “Leioproctus zephyr Prendergast (Hymenoptera, Colletidae, Leioproctus), an oligoletic new bee species with a distinctive clypeus” by Kit S. Prendergast, 31 October 2022, Journal of Hymenoptera Research.
DOI: 10.3897/jhr.93.85685
