Knowledge of wild bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in the Northwest region of Morocco

The current knowledge of wild bees remains limited within natural and semi-natural areas in Morocco, particularly in the northwestern region, including the Larache cork oak forest and the agricultural landscapes of the Gharb plain. Over three consecutive years (2021, 2022 and 2023), an inventory was conducted across various vegetative landscapes (forest, edge and agricultural fields) using diverse trapping methods and direct observation techniques. This study recorded a total of 531 individuals, representing 80 species and 21 genera distributed across six families. Notably, 71 species were identified in the Larache cork oak forest, while 14 species were documented in the agricultural lands of the Gharb plain, including two endemic species Andrena insignis and Eucera nadigi and one species newly reported for Morocco Nomada stigma. These findings highlight the urgent need for conservation and management strategies to safeguard the diversity of wild bees in both forest and agricultural ecosystems of the region.