Missing for almost 100 years: the rare and potentially threatened bee, Pharohylaeus lactiferus (Hymenoptera, Colletidae)

Abstract

The Australian endemic bee, Pharohylaeus lactiferus (Colletidae: Hylaeinae) is a rare species that requires conservation assessment. Prior to this study, the last published record of this bee species was from 1923 in Queensland, and nothing was known of its biology. Hence, I aimed to locate extant populations, provide biological information and undertake exploratory analyses relevant to its assessment. Pharohylaeus lactiferus was recently rediscovered as a result of extensive sampling of 225 general and 20 targeted sampling sites across New South Wales and Queensland. Collections indicate possible floral and habitat specialisation with specimens only found near Tropical or Sub-Tropical Rainforest and only visiting Stenocarpus sinuatus (Proteaceae) and Brachychiton acerifolius (Malvaceae), to the exclusion of other available floral resources. Three populations were found by sampling bees visiting these plant species along much of the Australian east coast, suggesting population isolation. GIS analyses used to explore habitat destruction in the Wet Tropics and Central Mackay Coast bioregions indicate susceptibility of Queensland rainforests and P. lactiferus populations to bushfires, particularly in the context of a fragmented landscape. Highly fragmented habitat and potential host specialisation might explain the rarity of P. lactiferus. Targeted sampling and demographic analyses are likely required to thoroughly assess the status of this species and others like it.

Continental risk assessment for understudied taxa post‐catastrophic wildfire indicates severe impacts on the Australian bee fauna

“…of temporal, spatial, or floral specialists), (ii) low cataloguing effort (e.g. most bee specimens in Australian museums are not data based), (iii) poor taxonomic knowledge, (iv) presence of cryptic species, or (v) rarity/ narrow-range endemism (which might indicate elevated risk of extinction from large-scale disturbance events; Burlakova et al, 2011;Dorey, 2021;Dorey et al, 2019Dorey et al, , 2020Harvey et al, 2011;Irl et al, 2017). Additionally, recent Australian bee taxonomic efforts suggest the presence of redundant species names and undescribed species (Batley & Hogendoorn, 2009).…”

“…logging), these fires were of an unprecedented scale (Boer et al, 2020;Bradstock et al, 2020;Lindenmayer et al, 2020;Nolan et al, 2020). The fire intensity was such that typically fire-resistant ecosystems, such as World Heritage-listed Gondwanan rainforests, were burned (Dorey, 2021;Nolan et al, 2020). Documenting the impacts of major fires is an important step to re-assess the conservation status of affected species and to help prioritize urgent and longer-term management responses aimed at recovery.…”

“…logging), these fires were of an unprecedented scale (Boer et al, 2020; Bradstock et al, 2020; Lindenmayer et al, 2020; Nolan et al, 2020). The fire intensity was such that typically fire‐resistant ecosystems, such as World Heritage‐listed Gondwanan rainforests, were burned (Dorey, 2021; Nolan et al, 2020).…”

GC/MS Profiling, Anti-Collagenase, Anti-Elastase, Anti-Tyrosinase and Anti-Hyaluronidase Activities of a Stenocarpus sinuatus Leaves Extract

“…These flowers produce olfactory cues and ultraviolet markers that attract bees. For example, Pharohylaeus lactiferus, a rare endemic bee, mainly prefers S. sinuatus [ 36 , 37 ]. The interesting previously mentioned antiaging, moisturizing, and skin whitening effects of some Proteaceous plant extracts and oils have encouraged us to investigate S.S. leaf extracts.…”

Spontaneous choices for insect-pollinated flower shapes by wild non-eusocial halictid bees

“…Australia is home to approximately 2000 native bee species (Houston, 2018); however, for many species, we lack information is lacking on the biology, distribution, breeding behaviour, habitat requirements and crop pollination abilities (Batley and Hogendoorn, 2009;Houston, 2018). Nevertheless, there is growing interest in understanding these topics in native bees (for examples, see Bull and Schwarz, 1997;Cunningham et al, 2013;Dorey, 2021;Halcroft et al, 2011Halcroft et al, , 2013Heard and Dollin, 2000;Hurst et al, 1997;Indsto et al, 2006;Schwarz, 2006, 2007;Kayaalp and Schwarz, 2007;Langer et al, 2006;Leys, 2000;Neville et al, 1998;Rehan et al, 2010;Schwarz and O'keefe, 1991;Schwarz et al, 1996;Smith and Mayfield, 2018;Tierney et al, 1997;Walker, 1993). The current lack of information across the many diverse bee species is thought to be a result of a dearth of taxonomic expertise and funding (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-10/ bee-taxonomy-in-australia-a-dying-art/12647676; Sands, 2018;Saunders et al, 2021;Taylor et al, 2018).…”