CHINESE
Zoological Systematics

Zoological Systematics >

2025 , Vol. 50 >Issue 2: 101 - 124

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11865/zs.2025201

Communication

The past, present, and future of bee taxonomy in mainland China

  • Michael C. Orr ,
  • John S. Ascher ,
  • Arong Luo ,
  • Zeqing Niu ,
  • Xiaoyu Shi ,
  • Paul H. Williams ,
  • Feng Yuan ,
  • Qingsong Zhou ,
  • Yanru Wu ,
  • Chaodong Zhu
Expand

  • 1Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China 

    2Entomologie, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany 

    3Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558, Singapore 

    4College of Biological Sciences/International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10049, China 

    5Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom 6State Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

Chaodong Zhu

Online published: 2025-04-24

Supported by

MCO, ARL, ZQN, and CDZ were supported by The National Natural Science Foundation Key Fund (32330013) and The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (31625024). MCO was supported by the NSFC International Young Scholars Program (31850410464) and the CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative (2018PB0003, 2020PB0142, 2024PVC0046). ARL was also funded by the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars (32122016) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32470473). CDZ’s Lab has been funded continuously by grants from the Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2008DP173354), State Key Laboratory of Animal Biodiversity Conservation and Integrated Pest Management (SKLA2501) and Sino BON Insect Diversity Monitoring Network (Sino BON- Insects).

Fold

Abstract

China has the sixth-largest bee fauna with over 1,300 documented species. Yet countless more are expected, making taxonomic work an imperative. Here, we outline the history of bee taxonomy in China and discuss how best we can move into the future and describe all of the many undescribed species remaining. Key challenges include the difficulty of accurately assigning species names due to overseas type material as well as a general need for increased internationalization such as in specimen and data sharing. Only with sustained funding for basic taxonomy will it be possible to know and protect China’s unique bee fauna.

Key words： Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthophila, systematics, review

Cite this article

Michael C. Orr , John S. Ascher , Arong Luo , Zeqing Niu , Xiaoyu Shi , Paul H. Williams , Feng Yuan , Qingsong Zhou , Yanru Wu , Chaodong Zhu . The past, present, and future of bee taxonomy in mainland China[J]. Zoological Systematics, 2025 , 50(2) : 101 -124 . DOI: 10.11865/zs.2025201

Options
Outlines

/

〈 〉