Rare species of wild bees discovered in Berlin

Rare species of wild bees were discovered during investigations by the German Wildlife Foundation in Berlin.

Sightings included the spiny mason bee (Osmia spinulosa) and the widow flower sand bee (Andrena hattorfiana), which are on the Red List of Threatened Species, as the foundation announced on Tuesday. The study took place in 2023 and was carried out on special areas belonging to the foundation. According to the information, around 330 species of wild bees live in Berlin, 170 of which were discovered in the surveyed areas. These are located both in the city center and in the outer districts.

Around 330 wild bee species in Berlin

"Eleven of the species recorded in these areas are listed as "Endangered" on the German Red List of Bees," said Manuel Hensen, head of the wild bee projects. These include the four-spotted furrow bee (Halictus quadricinctus) and the four-spotted narrow bee (Lasioglossum quadrinotatum). The foundation has been involved in the "More bees for Berlin - Berlin blossoms" project in the capital for years. To this end, special areas are being created and flowering plants sown in several locations in Berlin. "Before wild bees can fly to an area, it must first be made insect-friendly," explained the foundation. The project is mainly funded by the environmental administration.

Bees have special requirements for nesting sites and food

Wild bee species sometimes need very special conditions to thrive, said Tom Bluth, species conservation officer at the Wildlife Foundation. "The majority of wild bees have very specific requirements for nesting sites and food." Mason bee species, for example, live in snail shells. Many wild bee species are dependent on the pollen of a very specific plant family or genus, some even on that of a very specific plant species.