On October 2, the leadership of Vu Quang National Park (Ha Tinh) announced that the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) has collaborated with Vu Quang National Park following a period of exploration and research, revealing the discovery of a new bee species.
Pasites vuquang Tran, Engel, and L.T.P. Nguyen, 2024: A – side view; B – dorsal view. (Photo: iebr.ac.vn).
The newly discovered bee species has been named Pasites vuquang Tran, Engel, and L.T.P. Nguyen, 2024 (named after the location of its discovery), belonging to the genus Pasites, subfamily Ammobatini, family Apidae (the bee family). This species was identified during the research project VAST04.07/23-24 conducted by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in 2023.
Pasites is one of the most widely distributed genera within the Ammobatini tribe (subfamily Nomadinae), found from South Africa and Madagascar to Northern and Southern Asia. Pasites species can be distinguished by their glossy exoskeleton adorned with dense, concave punctures; the apex of the eighth abdominal segment features a particularly deep and narrow notch.
The discovery of Pasites also marks the first appearance of the Ammobatini tribe and the Pasites genus in Vietnam. This indicates that Vietnam’s biodiversity potential has yet to be fully explored.
Vu Quang National Park is recognized as one of Vietnam’s premier biodiversity centers, home to numerous endangered and rare species that require conservation priority. The park is situated within an ecologically significant area that has been identified as critically important for biodiversity conservation in both Vietnam and the world.
