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Numerous wild bee (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthophila) species show negative population trends, while the knowledge gaps on their occurrences and distributions prevent adequate conservation actions. The need for continuous updating of species records and reconfirmation of their presence has been recognized, especially in understudied areas. The present study presents the results of bee monitoring at 30 Serbian localities, each surveyed three times during 2023. Two sampling methods were used, the transect walks and the pan traps, resulting in a detection of 232 wild bee species. Among them, 13 species found at 13 localities, represent the first published records from Serbia: Andrena ferox Smith, 1847, A. nana (Kirby, 1802), A. praecox (Scopoli, 1763), A. pusilla Pérez, 1903, A. susterai Alfken, 1914, A. angustior (Kirby,1802), A. curvungula Thomson,1870, A. falsifica Perkins, 1915, Hoplitis mitis (Nylander, 1852), Hylaeus friesei (Alfken, 1904), Melitta melanura (Nylander, 1852), Nomada trapeziformis Schmiedeknecht, 1882, and Osmia uncinata Gerstaecker, 1869. This study contributes to an update of the list of bee species in Serbia, that now counts 744 species, and also provides additional data on European distributions. The new information on Melitta melanura is especially noteworthy, since this species has been assessed as Endangered by the European Red List of Bees due to its small area of occupancy and a severely fragmented distribution. Other important findings include the confirmation of the presence of some wild bee species in Serbia, i.e., 10 species reported as new records within the previous update, and 19 species that were without previously available records from the 21st century. Additionally, the present study indicates the effectiveness of both conducted monitoring techniques, in terms of different recorded species and numbers of specimens. These results lead to the conclusion that corroborates the application of complementary sampling methods as an adequate way to survey bee diversity and abundance.

Numerous scientific projects have been initiated with the aim of tackling the decline in insect pollinators, a crucial group for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. One of the first steps is to address information gaps on species spatial distribution, diversity, and abundance that prevent effective conservation actions in Europe. Given that Serbia belongs to the understudied areas, efforts are being made to improve knowledge of its bee diversity and abundance. The present study includes the monitoring of bees at 54 sites, surveyed three times during 2022. The conducted protocol combined two methods, transect walks and pan traps, resulting in the discovery of 312 bee species. The main results present the records of 25 species, not previously mentioned in Serbia, while another important finding is the confirmation of the presence of 26 species, without any available records from the 21st century. Moreover, 79 here examined species were known only from literature-based data. Six of the recorded species are considered threatened and 67 (10 newly recorded) have been assessed as Data Deficient in the European Red List of Bees. Therefore, the present study not only contributes to an update and confirms the list of bee species in Serbia, that now counts 731 species, but also provides additional information about European distribution, required for new assessment at the European level. In addition, the results indicate that the combination of complementary sampling methods is an effective way to assess bee diversity and abundance.