Diversity and human perceptions of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in Southeast Asian megacities.

Urbanization requires the conversion of natural land cover to cover with human-constructed elements and is considered a major threat to biodiversity. Bee populations, globally, are under threat; however, the effect of rapid urban expansion in Southeast Asia on bee diversity has not been investigated. Given the pressing issues of bee conservation and urbanization in Southeast Asia, coupled with complex factors surrounding human-bee coexistence, we investigated bee diversity and human perceptions of bees in four megacities. We sampled bees and conducted questionnaires at three different site types in each megacity: a botanical garden, central business district, and peripheral suburban areas. Overall, the mean species richness and abundance of bees were significantly higher in peripheral suburban areas than central business districts; however, there were no significant differences in the mean species richness and abundance between botanical gardens and peripheral suburban areas or botanical gardens and central business districts. Urban residents were unlikely to have seen bees but agreed that bees have a right to exist in their natural environment. Residents who did notice and interact with bees, even though being stung, were more likely to have positive opinions towards the presence of bees in cities.

Redescription of three Hippasa species from China (Araneae: Lycosidae), with a proposed species group-division and diagnosis.

The genus Hippasa is a group of web-weaving lycosids, whose web is funnel-like, quite similar to those of the Agelenidae. In this paper, based on published papers and specimens from China, we diagnose and discuss the composition of this genus. Two species groups are recognised, the Hippasa greenalliae-group (12 species and a subspecies) mainly from Asia and the Hippasa partita-group (17 species), which is distributed in both South Asia and Africa. In China, there are three Hippasa species: H. holmerae Thorell, 1895, H. lingxianensis Yin & Wang, 1980 (revalidated) and H. lycosina Pocock, 1900. The Japanese species, H. babai Tanikawa, 2007 is newly synonymised with H. lingxianensis. Two Hippasa species, H. agelenoides (Simon, 1884) and H. greenalliae (Blackwall, 1867) have never been found in China. Morphological illustrations, photos and redescriptions of H. holmerae, H. lingxianensis and H. lycosina are provided, based on Chinese specimens.