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A new bee species is discovered in Israel
The newly discovered Lasioglossum dorchini bees - female on left, male on right.
(ISRAEL21c via JNS) - A new species of bee unique to the sand dunes of Israel s coastal plains has been identified and described by Alain Pauly, a taxonomist from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels.
The species was named Lasioglossum dorchini in tribute to the Israeli bee researcher Achik Dorchin of the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University.
This new type of bee is especially exciting because a decline in the world bee population is putting crop pollination in danger.
Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
A bee sits on an iris flower near the town of Zichron Yaakov in northern Israel, February 4, 2017. (Nati Shohat/FLASH90)
Researchers studying the effect of eucalyptus trees on ecosystems in Israel have found and identified a new species of bee, amid concern over damage wreaked on wild populations due to habitat destruction and other causes.
Little is known yet about the new species, named
Lasioglossum dorchini, but researchers plan to study it to learn about its lifestyle and habits, said Hebrew University entomologist Yael Mandelik.
It was found by accident by PhD student Karmit Levy at the Alexander Stream National Park at Bet Yannai Beach, north of Netanya.
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