By Bruno Martinez
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and
ants. They are known for producing honey and beeswax and for the important role
they play in pollinating flowering plants. One third of our food needs to be
pollinated by insects, and bees are responsible for most of it. It is commonly said that if all bees
disappeared, it would be catastrophic for agriculture, as we know it, and
we would certainly suffer grievously.
Within the
palearctic region, one of the richest in bees’ types in the world, the Iberian
Peninsula is located in a privileged situation regarding the diversity of this
kind of insects. This is due to many facts, such as, its antiquity and relative
isolation since the formation of the Pyrenees, its geographical position
between Northern Africa and Europe, with its constant flow of insects from and
to both continents, its environmental, topographic, climatic and landscape
diversity. It is not ridiculous to think that there might exist more than 1,000
different species of bees in the Iberian Peninsula.
The bees that
can be found in the Iberian Peninsula are related to the following families:
Colletidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, Melittidae, Megachilidae, Anthophoridae and
Apidae.
Due to its
strategic situation within the Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenees have always been
a major region of bees’ diversity within the Iberian Peninsula. The most common
are:
Colletes Floralis:
This species
belongs to the Colletidae family. It is widely spread along the palearctic
region and within the Iberian Peninsula it can be seen in "Picos de
Europa", "Sierra Nevada" and the Pyrenees. It flies only in July
and August and at an altitude of around 2800-2900 meters. This species is
categorized as a "near threaten" species.
Duforea Paradoxa:
The Duforea
Paradoxa species, which belong to the Halictidae family, is divided into four
subspecies that live in the main mountain ranges of Europe, plus another
subspecies that live in Asia. Of these subspecies, the Dufourea Paradoxa
Mesembria is endemic of the Pyrenees. It can be found in Gavarnie (France) and
in Puerto de la Bonaigua (Spain). Although it is yet uncertain, it is believed
that this bee flies from July to August.
Meachile Analis Nylander:
Belongs to the
Megachilidae family. Species distributed all over Europe. It can be found in
the Pyrenees, "Picos de Europa" and "Sierra Nevada". It is
very common bee which can always be found over 2500 meters and below 3100
meters. Its flying period is limited to July and August.
Hoptilis ochraceicornis:
Belonging to
the Megachilidae family, this species has been seen in the Alps, the Pyrenees,
South of France, Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Macedonia. Its flying period is
limited to July.
Osmia Labialis:
The origin of
this species it is believed to be in the Alps, and from there it was spread to
Central Europe, Russia, Yugoslavia and to the high mountain ranges of the
Iberian Peninsula, including the Pyrenees. Belongs to the Megachilidae family
and its flying period is limited to June.
Anthidium Montanum:
Belongs to the
Megachilidae family. Is a very rare species in the Iberian fauna which can be
seen in the Pyrinees, the Alps, the Carpathians and the Tatra Mountains.
Stelis minuta:
Small bee
belonging to the Megachilidae family. Lives in the European Mountains (between
latitude 43º and 60º), in the Pyrenees, Northern Italy, Greece, Macedonia,
Turkey, Armenia and Northern Africa (mountain ranges of Algeria and Morocco).
Its flying period is limited to July.
Bombus vestalis:
Of the Apidae
family. Two subspecies of this bee
can be found in the Iberian fauna. The nominal one lives in the Pyrinees
Mountains, up to 1700 meters of altitude. Its flying period goes from March to
October, although it can be found sporadically in February and November. It is
categorized as a "near threatened" species. The main threat that this
species is suffering is the human influence over the environment and the
fragmentation of its population.