Researchers do not work alone. They depend on their human and non-human colleagues for assistance. Kit Prendergast, a wild-bee expert from Curtin University in Australia, decided to pay tribute to her beloved dog Zephyr by naming a newly discovered species of bee after him.
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A Leioproctus zephyrus male captured in profile can be observed in the image. The red mark in the image points out the facial region that protrudes resembling a snout. N. Tatarnic’s recent article in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research describes Leioproctus zephyr, a bee from Western Australia. The bee’s name is very appropriate due to the dog-like snout, which is an endearing and adorable trait when inspected up close. The prominent growth on the bee’s face is called a clypeus.
In a statement released by Curtin on Monday, Prendergast shared about the bees that she had come across during her collection of specimens in urban regions for her doctoral research project. The researcher was immediately fascinated by the bee’s remarkably distinct facial features.
Determining whether a bee is a new species requires investigative work. Prendergast employed microscopy, genetic testing, and compared the bee to specimens in entomology collections. Despite having been previously collected in the 1970s, the bee had not yet been officially described.
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The female Leioproctus zephyr bee can be observed from both front and side views. Its name draws inspiration from a Maremma sheepdog, a large, fluffy and light-colored dog that Prendergast affectionately refers to as a “loyal and affectionate companion without judgment.”
Prendergast expressed concern about the uncertain future of Leioproctus zephyr, a species he recently described, on Twitter by pointing out its high specialization and limited, fragmented range. The study suggests that the ground-nesting bee may be vulnerable to habitat loss due to road construction or urbanization.
I’m concerned about the future of my recently described species, Leioproctus zephyr. It is highly specialized and has a limited, fragmented range. @AusTSX @TSCommissioner https://t.co/IWHjf1jLf6
According to Dr Kit Prendergast (@BeeBabette) on November 2, 2022, the Western Australian Museum has approximated that there are 2,000 native bee species in the country, with a significant number still awaiting formal description. Research such as the investigation on Leioproctus zephyr can advance the knowledge of the diversity and behavior of bees, and support the efforts for conservation. Despite the difficulties encountered in this field, the presence of a canine companion, as Prendergast has experienced, can be beneficial.
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