American biologists uncovered a surprising finding at the venerable East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York. Beneath the ground, a massive collective of solitary wild bees of the Andrena regularis species has established itself—totaling approximately 5.56 million individuals. These insects have inhabited this specific location for nearly nine decades, with initial documentation of their presence tracing back to 1935.
Researchers were already aware that these specific bees resided on the cemetery lawns. However, the true scale of this colony remained obscured until recently. To gauge its magnitude, scientists deployed ten specialized mesh traps across the grounds, which covered defined patches of earth. Over a 48-day period, they meticulously counted the insects emerging from below the surface daily. Subsequently, using mathematical extrapolation, they projected these figures across the entire nesting area. The resulting estimation revealed that this multi-million-strong population occupies less than one hectare.
In terms of pollination efficacy, this subterranean “megalopolis” demonstrates a capacity comparable to 140 to 270 large managed honeybee hives. It turns out that these wild bees are the primary pollinators for the apple orchards belonging to Cornell University, situated a mere 600 meters from the cemetery. Furthermore, these native bees consistently outnumber the domestic honeybees in that locale—a mystery that has long puzzled agricultural experts.
In addition to the main inhabitants, scientists identified around 78,000 cuckoo bees belonging to the species Nomada imbricata, which are parasitic: they wait for the host bees to excavate their tunnels and provision them with pollen, at which point they deposit their own eggs into the ready-made nests. An unexpected discovery was also the blister beetle Lytta aenea, a species previously unobserved near the nests of Andrena bees.
The success and flourishing of this colony can be attributed to the unique characteristics of the cemetery grounds. Established in 1878, the property has absolutely never undergone deep plowing or chemical treatments. Consistent lawn mowing actually provides the bees with easy access to sun-warmed, sandy soil—an optimal environment for burrow construction. The scientists emphasize that urban cemeteries hold the potential to function as genuine nature preserves, safeguarding insect populations that are vanishing from conventional agricultural lands.
About the Author
