Wild bees of Austria

Wild bees are essential pollinators and play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Globally, around 20,000 bee species have been identified, with at least 806 species recorded in Austria alone. Despite their ecological significance, the status and diversity of many species remain poorly understood. This is largely due to challenges in species identification—for example, in some species only males can be reliably identified—and a lack of comprehensive data on their distribution and ecological requirements. Many bee taxa exhibit high intraspecific diversity and may include cryptic sibling species that differ in habitat preferences, floral associations, and have more restricted ranges. DNA barcoding is a powerful tool that can complement traditional taxonomy and aid scientists to identify difficult taxa which in turn can support informed decisions about biodiversity and conservation.

The project aims to study the genetic diversity within difficult-to-identify species complexes of wild bees (e.g. Halictus tetrazonius and Andrena ovatula groups) in Austria using DNA barcoding and distribution data. The project will support better conservation by clarifying species boundaries and highlighting the importance of habitat connectivity to maintain genetic exchange.