# Wild Bee Species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of Three Western Provinces of Cuba: A Century of Temporal Dynamics

## TL;DR

This study examines wild bee species in Cuba's Havana province, finding 52 species and highlighting conservation concerns due to population changes over a century.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of wild bee diversity and temporal dynamics in Cuba using historical and new data.

## Key findings

- 52 wild bee species were identified in Havana province, including 14 endemics and four introduced species.
- Most species were recorded during the rainy season, and 70% of species have persisted over a century.
- Three critically endangered bee species were documented in the region.

## Abstract

Bees, which play a vital role in the reproduction of plant, are in decline due to multiple factors. In tropical islands, despite their growing extent, urban areas are less explored and sampled compared to natural areas. Historical collections and online databases can then provide information on the temporal dynamics of pollinators as well as ecological information, providing a proxy for deficient sampling. This study investigates the diversity and ecological characteristics of the wild bee community and its temporal dynamics in the Havana province of Cuba. Cuba is a biodiversity hotspot in the Caribbean and hosts the highest bee biodiversity in the Antilles. Here, we analyzed 1,322 records (of which 1,067 new) from various sources (online databases, literature, and historical natural collections during the XIX Century). In the studied area our data attest the presence of 52 species (23 genera, 4 families), of which 47 are native (14 endemics) and four are introduced species Three species categorized as "critically endangered" for the country were recorded; 41 species are polylectic (78.8%) and 11 kleptoparasitic (21.2%). Most species were found during the rainy season (49 species vs 39 species recorded in dry season). Regarding the variation of the wild bee population over the years, one third of the recorded species have not been observed since the last century, while about 70% of the species persist. Analysis of a century data underscores the importance of conserving the wild bee community in these provinces.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13744-025-01282-6.