An unexpected new genus of panurgine bees (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae) from Europe discovered after phylogenomic analysis

Establishing a higher classification of bees based on morphology alone can fail to capture evolutionary relationships when morphological characters either vary very little between distantly related groups, or conversely greatly closely species. This problem is well represented in the subfamily Panurginae, for which recent global revision phylogenomic data unexpectedly revealed that two Old World species previously placed Camptopoeum Spinola and Flavipanurgus Warncke, are fact most each other, together form sister group relationship remaining Panurgus Panzer combined. To rectify this situation, we here establish an expanded set Panurgini re-assess generic subgeneric concepts tribe. solve paraphyly , new genus Halopanurgus gen. nov. containing H. baldocki (Wood & Cross), comb. fuzetus (Patiny), both restricted coastal sands, saltmarshes, inland saline lagoons extreme south Portugal south-west Spain. Re-evaluation four recently used subgenera strongly supports simplified subgenera; Pachycephalopanurgus Patiny, stat. rev. including Micropanurgus Patiny syn. s. str. Euryvalvus Patiny. seem be oligoleges Asteroideae (Asteraceae), whereas may Cichorieae (Asteraceae). Our findings reinforce challenges establishing phylogenetically sound Panurginae using illustrate even well-studied regions like Europe unrecognised genera persist underexplored corners continent.