University of Washington identifies 8 new bee species in Washington
SEATTLE - University of Washington researchers have identified eight bee species never before recorded in Washington state while studying pollinators in Chelan County.
The backstory:
Autumn Maust, a UW research scientist, discovered the species while examining how climate change and wildfires affect native bee populations.
Additionally, Maust also documented 100 bee species not previously recorded in Chelan County.
"It’s a really exciting moment. Sitting with an expert taxonomist to determine the identity of an undocumented bee filled me with awe," Maust said. "They cited subtle characteristics that I would not have even known to examine. The findings also have important implications for biodiversity. It’s difficult to conserve a species when we don’t know its name or native range."
Experts from Utah to British Columbia helped identify the bees, adding them to the state’s list of native pollinators.
Dig deeper:
The new-to-Washington bee species include:
Dianthidium singulare
Dianthidium singulare bee (Autumn Maust)
The scopa on the female bee's abdomen and pitted "terga" with inflated edges helped Maust identify it at Dianthidium singulare.
Osmia cyaneonitens
Metallic blue mason bee with large mandibles for nest building.
Dufourea dilatipes
A rare sweat bee attracted to the salt and moisture in the sweat of mammals, and forages exclusively on Calochortus flowers.
Dianthidium singulare
Melissodes nigracauda bee (Autumn Maust)
Black and brown bee known for distinctive coloring and dense hairs.
Stelis heronae
Tiny parasitic cuckoo bee with distinct colored abdominal markings.
More information can be found on the UW News website.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the University of Washington.