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.地中海盆地周边区域被公认为蜜蜂类群的核心生物多样性热点区域，而意大利亦是欧洲境内蜜蜂物种丰富度最高的国家之一。精准掌握蜜蜂分布信息，对于解析蜜蜂生物学特性及制定针对性保护策略至关重要，但南欧国家（尤其是意大利）在这方面的认知仍较为匮乏。本研究报道了近期发现的48种蜜蜂，这些类群为意大利蜜蜂区系带来了诸多重要新发现。其中8个物种为意大利全境首次记录，分别为：Andrena confinis Stöckhert、Anthidiellum breviusculum Pérez、Coelioxys alatus Foerster、Lasioglossum algericolellum Strand、Megachile lapponica Thomson、Megachile opacifrons Pérez、Megachile semicircularis auct. nec Zanden 以及 Trachusa integra Eversmann。此外，另有6个物种为意大利本土首次记录：Andrena binominata Smith、Andrena compta Lepeletier、Colletes acutus Pérez、Lasioglossum strictifrons Vachal、Rhodanthidium siculum Spinola 及 Rhodanthidium sticticum Fabricius；其中Osmia heteracantha Pérez为撒丁岛（Sardegna）首次记录，Nomada flavopicta Kirby为西西里岛（Sicilia）首次记录。本研究同时报道了其他多种蜜蜂的分布区扩张记录，以及一批在意大利境内久未被采集记录的物种的新近发现。本研究结合形态学观察与DNA条形码（DNA barcoding）技术，即便针对最难鉴定的标本，也实现了可靠的物种鉴定。鉴于本次研究的诸多记录来自此前蜜蜂分类学者长期忽视的区域，本研究清晰揭示：意大利仍有大量未被发掘的蜜蜂区系物种资源；同时本研究有望激发分类学家与相关利益方在未来进一步开展意大利蜜蜂研究的兴趣。