As unusual as the Tasmanian tiger, the bee Pharohylaeus lactiferus has been found alive in Australia, home to hundreds of native bee species. However, P. lactiferus is special: it is the only Australian member of a genus. The only other species of Pharohylaeus lives in New Guinea.
The last time it was sighted was in 1923 and, now, thanks to entomologist and photographer James Dorey , we have been lucky enough to be able to see this unusual specimen again after its arduous search in more than 240 different locations.
Dorey found Pharohylaeus lactiferus on the outskirts of tropical and subtropical rainforests pollinating bright red flowers.
To be sure, the rediscovery of this once-extinct but clearly threatened bee offers hope for many other species of bees that have not been seen in decades.
Reference: Missing for almost 100 years: the rare and potentially threatened bee, Pharohylaeus lactiferus (Hymenoptera, Colletidae) James B. Dorey Journal of Hymenoptera https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/59365/ Research 2021
