A team of researchers from the University of Lisbon discovered mummified wild bees inside cocoons dating back three thousand years. This discovery sheds new light on the life and behavior of these ancient pollinators.
A team of scientists stumbled upon an amazing find during paleontological excavations on the coast of Odemira in Portugal.
The mummified bees, perfectly preserved in their cylindrical cocoons, are believed to belong to the genus Eucera, nesting in the ground. It is one of the approximately 700 species of bees found in Portugal. The level of preservation even allowed the identification of anatomical details, including the sex of the bee, and even particles of monofloral pollen that were left behind during the construction of the cocoon.
Using X-ray micro-computed tomography, scientists were able to peer inside the cocoons and see the bees' long antennae, indicating they were male.
The amazing survival of these ancient bees is the result of a combination of factors, including natural bee behavior, cocoon composition, and local geological processes. These cocoons were formed by an extremely rare process of mineralization. In other cases, the external skeleton of bees decomposes very quickly. Scientists believe that such mummification of bees could have been caused by a sharp drop in temperature at night at the end of winter or prolonged flooding during the rainy season.
Fossilized bodies of bees, unlike turtle bones preserved in sedimentary layers, are rarely found.
Scientists note that these samples allow us to study the biology and behavior of ancient pollinators, as well as the environmental conditions in which they lived. The consequences of this discovery are far-reaching. Scientists can now delve into the life cycles, nesting habits and perhaps even the diet of these bees, all of which could provide crucial insights into the ecosystems of ancient Europe.
The discovery of these mummified bees is a testament to the importance of scientific research and the mysteries that continue to be unraveled by researchers around the world. When there is an understanding of the past, we can also gain invaluable insight into the challenges our planet faces in the present and future.
Source: nytimes.com
