Fundamentally Altering Previous Thinking – Two Bee Species Have Become One

A current research study carried out by scientists from Curtin and Flinders Universities exposes that what were formerly thought to be 2 unique types of native Australian bee are, in truth, one types.

Lead scientist Dr. Kit Prendergast from the Curtin School of Molecular and Life Sciences stated the research study, based upon native bee studies at Perth areas of Wireless Hill, Shenton Park, and Russo Reserve, essentially modifies previous thinking.

Research Study Methodology and Discovery

“Essentially the research study group utilized DNA sequencing to reveal that what we utilized to consider 2 various types of bees are in fact simply the males and women of one, single types, “Dr Prendergast stated.

“For numerous native bee types in Australia, their descriptions were based upon just one sex. Recognizing males and women as coming from the exact same types entirely through observation can be difficult, as both sexes of the very same types typically show obvious distinctions.

“In this research study, I gathered what seemed the woman of a bee types that has actually been explained just from the male– a types at the time calledXanthesma (Xenohesma) perpulchraThe group then utilized DNA analysis to validate these female bees remained in reality the very same types as the male.

“Surprisingly, their DNA likewise matched another types, that had actually just ever been explained from the woman– theXanthesma (Xanthesma) brachyceraso we had the ability to show that the 2 remained in truth the exact same types.

“It appears both sexes had actually never ever been gathered in the very same location at the very same time, and both were explained in the early 1900s, well before the development of DNA analysis.”

The Value of DNA Barcoding

Dr Prendergast stated the findings revealed the worth of DNA barcoding in precisely recognizing males and women that come from the very same types. This is especially important due to the fact that males and women of the very same types might have unique looks, while various types of the very same sex can appear rather comparable.

“Our findings are considerable due to the fact that having the ability to properly determine types is essentially essential to essentially every element of life sciences,” Dr Prendergast stated.

“Accurate types recognition allows us to figure out the number of types exist in a location, assists us comprehend the advancement of life in the world, and how types belong. It likewise permits us to examine preservation requirements.

“We hope this research study is simply the pointer of the iceberg when it pertains to the taxonomy of Australian native bees, which it motivates firms and federal government to buy more taxonomic work, specifically on the Euryglossinae, which is a crucial, yet understudied group of bees belonging to Australia.”

Recommendation: “Xanthesma (Xenohesma) perpulchra and Xanthesma (Xanthesma) brachycera are conspecific based upon DNA barcodes” by Kit S. Prendergast and James B. Dorey, 26 October 2023, Australian Journal of Taxonomy
DOI: 10.54102/ ajt