Contrary to popular depictions of bee nests as large, intricate hives that hang from trees, the majority of bee species — about 90% — are actually solitary and build their nests in the ground or within rotting logs and the stems of plants.But researchers recently discovered what is perhaps one of the most peculiar nesting spots: Inside a limestone cave on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, a hoard of fossilized bones — some from now-extinct animals — was home to tiny ancient bee nests built within the empty tooth sockets. It is the first time bees have been recorded using bones to nest and lay eggs, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Royal Society Open Science.“It was very surprising, because you never find invertebrates there — you find snails, but you don’t find insects,” said lead author Lázaro Viñola-López, a postdoctoral researcher at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. “Usually what you find in this cave are rodents, birds, like all that fauna. So, finding evidence of ancient bees in those cave deposits was very exciting. The first time we have that in the Caribbean.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe findings help to fill a gap in the fossil record since all other bee fossils described in the Caribbean were discovered within amber and are much older, dating back around 20 million years, Viñola-López explained.A hoard of fossilized bones was home to tiny ancient bee nests built within empty tooth sockets. – Courtesy of Lazaro Viñola LópezThe …
