CR

Colletes merceti

DecliningENEU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Colletes merceti faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from coastal development and urbanization along Mediterranean shorelines. The species' highly specialized nesting requirements in sandy coastal soils make it extremely vulnerable to beach modification and tourism infrastructure development. Climate change-induced sea level rise and increased storm intensity further threaten the narrow coastal strip habitats essential for this bee's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This specialized solitary bee inhabits sandy coastal areas and Mediterranean shorelines, where it excavates nesting burrows in loose, well-drained sandy soils. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions found in undisturbed coastal dunes and sandy beaches with appropriate flowering plants for foraging.

Desert· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in COLLETIDAE

VU

Mydrosoma bohartorum

Unknown
VU

Leioproctus filamentosus

Declining
VU

Euryglossina proctotrypoides

Declining
VU

Euryglossina intermedia

Declining

Threatened in Kazakhstan

Menzbier's MarmotVU

Menzbier's Marmot

Marmota menzbieri

Declining
VU

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Anser erythropus

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Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown
Asian HoubaraVU

Asian Houbara

Chlamydotis macqueenii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Colletes merceti classified as Critically Endangered?
Colletes merceti is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Colletes merceti faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from coastal development and urbanization along Mediterranean shorelines. The species' highly specialized nesting requirements in sandy coastal soils make it extremely vulnerable to beach modification and tourism infrastructure development. Climate change-induced sea level rise and increased storm intensity further threaten the narrow coastal strip habitats essential for this bee's survival.
Where does Colletes merceti live?
Colletes merceti occurs in Kazakhstan, and Spain. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Colletes merceti?
The main threats to Colletes merceti are 2.1, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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