With 690 species, Austria is one of the biodiversity hotspots for wild bees in Central Europe. Many of these species are particularly endangered because of their narrow food spectrum or very limited distribution. The aim of the projects was to provide first DNA barcodes from bees from Austria.

In the course of the investigations, valuable new and re-discoveries were made and published, including first record of Hoplosmia ligurica and Megachile flabellipes for Vienna, as well as the first record of Nomioides minutissimus in Vienna after 144 years. A total of 138 native wild bee species were recorded and 127 barcodes of 89 species were generated. These are now available on BOLD and can be used as comparative data and determination reference for future investigations. For a large number of specimens, images from the front, top and side have been taken using microscope layer photography. They not only make the determination of the species verifiable but also allow morphological comparison in addition to the DNA barcodes. Thus they provide an excellent basis for further research on these species.

Project status: completed

The project is funded by the initiative Wir für die Welt (www.muttererde.at).