A DNA barcode-based survey of wild urban bees in the Loire Valley, France

A DNA barcode-based survey of wild urban bees in the Loire Valley, France, reveals that 96.17% of the 157 bee species identified can be reliably distinguished using DNA barcoding alone, including several closely related and notoriously difficult-to-identify species. This finding underscores the potential of DNA barcoding as a robust tool for non-expert identification in biodiversity monitoring programs. The study generated DNA barcodes for 2931 specimens from 28 genera, with 172 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) assigned. Notably, 36 species (22.93%) were found in highly urbanized areas, highlighting the adaptability of wild bees to urban environments. The research demonstrates that DNA barcoding can facilitate accurate and rapid identification, which is crucial for understanding bee decline and conserving pollination services in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Loire Valley.

Villalta, I., Ledet, R., Baude, M., Genoud, D., Bouget, C., Cornillon, M., Moreau, S., Courtial, B., & Lopez-Vaamonde, C. (2021). A DNA barcode-based survey of wild urban bees in the Loire Valley, France. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83631-0