A new bee species of the genus Dasypoda from North Africa uncovered by morphology and ultraconserved element phylogenomics (Hymenoptera: Melittidae)

Among the six bee families recorded from the African continent, Melittidae is a species-poor group that includes the pantaloon bees of the genus Dasypoda Latreille. Using an integrative approach combining morphological examination and phylogenomic analysis based on ultraconserved elements (UCEs), we describe and diagnose a new species, D. (Heterodasypoda) rosaella Ghisbain & Wood, sp. nov., from Morocco and Tunisia. This species has been historically misidentified as the European species D. (Heterodasypoda) albimana Pérez, 1905. We designate a sequenced neotype for the closely related D. albimana from southern France, facilitating comparisons with D. (Heterodasypoda) rosaellasp. nov. and D. (Heterodasypoda) michezi Radchenko, 2017. To further clarify the taxonomy of the genus, we confirm that D. (Heterodasypoda) bolivari Quilis is a junior synonym of D. (Heterodasypoda) albimana, and retain D. (Dasypoda) panzeri Spinola, 1838 as a junior synonym of D. (Dasypoda) hirtipes (Fabricius, 1793), although issues with the lectotype designation obscure the terra typica, excluding this species from Egypt’s fauna. We finally present an updated checklist and key of African Dasypoda, comprising 13 species, including 6 endemics. Our findings refine our understanding of African Dasypoda diversity and underscore the need for integrative taxonomic approaches in resolving cryptic species complexes.

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