Dataset of the collected flower-visiting insects from three sites in the Middle Atlas region

Abstract

Wild bees play a crucial role in sustaining ecosystem functioning and plant reproduction, yet comprehensive information on their diversity and seasonal dynamics remains limited in North Africa. In this study, we investigated how wild bee communities vary across contrasting sites and seasons in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. Flower-visiting insects were surveyed using standardized pan-trap sampling from March to August over two consecutive years across three contrasting sites differing in vegetation characteristics and disturbance levels. A total of 3,842 insect individuals were recorded, with communities dominated by flies (43.2%), followed by beetles (25.0%) and wild bees (18.7%). The wild bee assemblage comprised 753 individuals representing 76 species across 19 genera and six families, with Andrena and Lasioglossum being the most species-rich and abundant genera. Species accumulation analyses indicated high sampling completeness overall, although additional rare species are likely to occur, particularly at Zerouka during late summer. Bee communities exhibited strong spatial and seasonal structuring. Moudmam supported the highest species richness and abundance, while Ras el Ma and Zerouka hosted distinct assemblages characterized by differences in dominant taxa and site characteristics. Seasonal turnover was pronounced, with early spring communities dominated by Andrena species and summer assemblages increasingly characterized by halictid and long-tongued bees. In addition, the survey documented two species newly recorded for Morocco, two endemic species, and sixteen species newly recorded for the Fès–Meknès region. Overall, our findings reveal marked differences in pollinator communities across sites and seasons and provide a comprehensive assessment of wild bee diversity in the Middle Atlas. These results contribute valuable baseline data for understanding and conserving pollinator diversity in Mediterranean mountain ecosystems.