Latest news with #Magnacca
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New species of native bee discovered on Molokai
COURTESY STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES A native bee—hylaeus connectens—sits on a native shrub kolomona (Senna gaudichaudii ) in Makolelau, an ahupuaa in East Molokai. COURTESY STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES A native bee—hylaeus connectens—sits on a native shrub kolomona (Senna gaudichaudii ) in Makolelau, an ahupuaa in East Molokai. A new, native bee species has been discovered on the southern slopes of Molokai. The new species—Hylaeus paumako—has a distinctive, all-black face never before seen in a native male species on Molokai, according to conservationists. It has been named Hylaeus paumako, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, with 'paumako ' meaning mourning or grief in Hawaiian. Karl Magnacca, an entolomologist for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife Survey, found the new species while surveying Mako lelau, an ahupuaa in East Molokai. He credited the exciting discovery to the Molokai Plant Extinction Prevention Program team, which showed him the area. 'While I didn't expect to find many bees during my visit, the presence of the native shrub kolomona (Senna gaudichaudii ) piqued my interest, ' said Magnacca in a news release. 'It was there that I first noticed the distinctive markings on one of the bees. I immediately realized that I had found something new.' The Hylaeus paumako is part of a diverse group of endemic bees native to Hawaii, according to DLNR, with all 64 known species in the same genus descending from a single ancestor that arrived on the islands roughly 1 million to 1.5 million years ago. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. DLNR's Division of Forestry and Wildlife acquired Makolelau, an important watershed, in 2022 for conservation purposes. Much of the area had suffered from degradation due to invasive species and erosion, but some pockets of native vegetation protected by fences survived. These pockets now provide crucial habitats for native species such as the Hylaeus paumako and many rare plants. Magnacca said area's mesic forests are the most diverse in terms of native plants and insects in general, and also the most threatened. 'Everyone's attention is grabbed by the wet rainforest, but we have large portions of those forests protected and in relatively good shape, while dry and mesic forests are much more endangered, ' he said. 'So it's really important to protect these remnant patches, even when they're small, because our native species can survive in them.' This was not Magnacca's first new species discovery. He has collected some 500 new species over the past three years of field surveys, and expects to find more. 'There are quite a few that haven't been seen in decades, and recently discovered ones that have only been seen once or twice, so they seem to be quite good at hiding from us, ' he said. 'I have seen them persisting in surprisingly small or degraded areas, so that gives some hope that they may actually be doing better than it seems.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New discovery ‘buzzing' around Molokai
MOLOKAI, Hawaii (KHON2) — A new species of bee has been buzzing around the southern slopes of Molokai. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the bee was discovered in 2024 by DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife Survey Entomologist Dr. Karl Magnacca. New sponge species discovered in Kaneohe Bay The bee, named Hylaeus paumako, can be distinguished by its all-black face, something uncommon with male Molokai bee species. Magnacca discovered the species in Mākolelau, an ahupuaʻa of east Moloka'i; a protected area with crucial habitats for native species. While I didn't expect to find many bees during my visit, the presence of the native shrub kolomona piqued my interest. It was there that I first noticed the distinctive markings on one of the bees. I immediately realized that I had found something new. This is an exciting discovery, and I want to give credit to the MoPEPP team for showing me the area. Dr. Karl Magnacca Experts believe the bee is part of 64 known species in the same genus that descended from one ancestor who arrived on the islands around 1.5 million years ago. Magnacca said the bees have adapted to the mesic forests and added they must be protected to ensure native species can survive in them. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'I do expect there will be more discoveries among the native bees. There are quite a few that haven't been seen in decades, and recently discovered ones that have only been seen once or twice, so they seem to be quite good at hiding from us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
