Entomologists Identify 71 Native Bee Species in Australia

The recently identified species are part of the rare subgenus Bee Austrothil (genus) Megachil. These bees construct cells from skin within clusters of resin or tree bark, which are meticulously packed into twigs. Consequently, the author suggests “Pot Bee of Resin” as the common name for the bees in this subgenus.

Pot bees of resin are native to Australia, found across all states and territories except for Tasmania.

Dr. Remcoleis, a researcher at the Museum of South Australia, stated, “This group was previously believed to include seven species, with an additional 18 named in 1992.”

“Throughout the years, 23 more species were uncovered during field studies, including newly identified invertebrates and plant species found during various bushblitz investigations,” he added.

“Bush Blitz is a collaboration between the Australian Government, BHP Billiton, and Earthwatch Australia, aimed at recording the fauna and flora of select national reserves.”

“It also supports the identification of new species, allowing us to correlate newly collected specimens with existing species in Australia’s entomological collections.”

“This effort unveiled 20 more unidentified species residing in the collection, highlighting the significance of entomological collections as a source of discoveries.”

Dr. Katja Hogendoorn, a researcher at the University of Adelaide, remarked, “There is still much to learn about Australia’s critical role in honey production and pollination.”

“Despite the environmental and economic significance of native plants and crops as pollinators, the Australian bee fauna remains poorly understood.”

“An estimated one-third of bee species are yet to be documented scientifically, and insufficient funding for taxonomic research hinders the ability to assess conservation issues and take protective measures for native honeybees.”

“We may still lose a species we are unaware of.”

Currently, about 1,700 native bee species are recognized in Australia.

The research team discovered that there are 78 known species of resin pot bees, with almost half identified from a solitary location.

Dr. James Doley, a researcher at the University of Wollongong, stated, “We are diligently working to better our understanding of these species.”

“While the distribution of these species may be confined, there is a lack of sufficient information regarding their prevalence or population size.”

The findings appear in a new paper published in Australian Taxonomy.

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R. Rays et al. 2025. Australian resin pot honeybees, Megachil (Austrothil) (Megachilidae), description of a new species of 71. Australian Taxonomy 90:1-119; doi:10.54102/ajt.ek0f9