In the year 2023, Belgium witnessed the unveiling of six new wasp species and one novel bee species, as reported by the Flemish nature conservation organization Natuurpunt.

Alongside these discoveries, the diligent efforts of volunteers led to the rediscovery of six bee species previously thought to be lost.

The six newly identified wasp species, still awaiting Dutch-language names, emerged through a study conducted by Jeffrey Jacobs from the University of Hasselt. Jacobs focused on wasp communities thriving on green roofs, revealing these additions to Belgium's rich biodiversity. Fons Verheyde, a volunteer at Aculea, Natuurpunt's working group dedicated to wild bees and wasps, shared that Belgium is home to around 5,000 wasp species, with only about 1,000 having Dutch-language names.

In contrast, bees in Belgium number just over 400 species, benefiting from clearer distinguishing features that facilitate naming. Among the newfound bee species, one has already received a Dutch-language name: "roodpotige bloedbij," translating to the red-legged blood bee. Despite being captured on camera along the Ghent-Bruges canal in Aalter in 2020, its official cataloging took place in 2023.

Additionally, six bee species thought to be extinct were successfully located through targeted searches conducted by dedicated volunteers. The rediscovery of these bees in their last known habitats adds a hopeful chapter to the ongoing conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding these essential pollinators. Photo by Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia commons.