Ultraconserved element phylogenomics of Dasypoda bees uncovers a new species from North Africa (Hymenoptera: Melittidae)

Authors: GHISBAIN, GUILLAUME - University Of Mons-Hainaut; MICHEZ, DENIS - University Of Mons-Hainaut; RADCHENKO, FLADIMIR - National Academy Of Sciences Of Ukraine; Branstetter, Michael; ALVAREZ FIDALGO, PILUCA - Museo Nacional De Ciencias Naturales; WOOD, THOMAS - University Of Mons-Hainaut

Submitted to: Insect Systematics and Diversity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2026
Publication Date: 2/13/2026
Citation: Ghisbain, G., Michez, D., Radchenko, F.G., Branstetter, M.G., Alvarez Fidalgo, P., Wood, T. 2026. Ultraconserved element phylogenomics of Dasypoda bees uncovers a new species from North Africa (Hymenoptera: Melittidae). Insect Systematics and Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS24073.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/IS24073

Interpretive Summary: Bees are important pollinators of plants in agricultural and natural ecosystems; understanding their diversity and evolutionary history provides critical knowledge for studying their biology and ecology The pantaloon bees, genus Dasypoda, represent a species poor lineage of bees that occur in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Within North Africa their taxonomy has not been comprehensively studied for many years and their is uncertainty regarding the status of several species in relation to some European species. To improve knowledge of this important group of bees, an international group of researchers used molecular and morphological data to review and revise the taxonomy of species in Africa. The combined data revealed the existence of a new species in North Africa and helped resolve several other taxonomic problems in the genus, brining the total number of species in the region to 12. The new species is thoroughly described and a key to the other species is provided, facilitating identification. This study improves the knowledge of Dasypoda bees in Africa, providing a valuable taxonomic framework for studying bees in the region.

Technical Abstract: Among the six bee families recorded from the African continent is Melittidae, a species-poor group that includes the pantaloon bees of the genus Dasypoda Latreille. In this paper we provide an updated checklist of African Dasypoda that totals 12 species, including six species endemic to the continent, and an updated key to African members of the genus. We provide the description and diagnosis of a new bee species belonging to the subgenus Heterodasypoda, Dasypoda rosaella Ghisbain & Wood sp. nov., based on both morphology and Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs). This new species, presently recorded from Morocco and Tunisia, has been historically confused with the European species Dasypoda albimana Pérez, 1905 that was described from northeastern Spain and is morphologically close to D. michezi Radchenko, 2017 described from southern Portugal. We designate a sequenced neotype for D. albimana Pérez from southern France to decisively fix this name and to allow a proper comparison with both D. michezi and D. rosaella sp. nov. Examination of the type material of Dasypoda bolivari Quilis at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Spain) confirms that it is a junior synonym of D. albimana Pérez, and examination of material in the Spinola collection (Turin, Italy) revealed that the lectotype designated for Dasypoda (Dasypoda) panzeri Spinola, 1838 is of uncertain geographic origin and is consequently best treated as a nomen dubium.