New York Cemetery Holds 5.5 Million Underground Bees

When Rachel Fordyce spotted a few bees during her morning walk through East Lawn Cemetery in spring 2022, she had no idea she was standing on top of one of nature's hidden wonders.

The Cornell University lab tech captured some specimens and brought them to work, where researchers made an astonishing discovery. Beneath the 1.5 acres of quiet cemetery ground lived 5.5 million underground bees, a mega-colony that had been thriving since at least the early 1900s.

"I was completely floored," said Bryan Danforth, a professor of entomology who helped analyze the find. To put this in perspective, if these were hive-dwelling honeybees, you'd see over 200 hives scattered throughout the small cemetery.

These aren't your typical bees. The Andrena regularis species, known as regular mining bees, are solitary insects that actually represent how most bees live (roughly 75% of all bee species nest underground). Female bees dig individual nests, lay eggs, and store pollen for their offspring without any queen or hive structure.

The cemetery turned out to be the perfect home for these pollinators. The sandy soil makes digging easy, the grounds stay undisturbed, and pesticide use is minimal. Plus, nearby Cornell Orchards provides a buffet of blooming apple trees and fruit crops each spring.

The Ripple Effect

This discovery launched something bigger than one cemetery's bee population. Researchers created a global citizen science initiative where people can report underground bee sightings, helping protect these vital pollinator habitats from destruction.

The find also revealed something poetic about the relationship between bees and burial grounds. Throughout history, cultures worldwide have connected bees with death and rebirth. The Celts practiced "telling the bees" of deaths, ancient Egyptians used honey in embalming, and Greeks believed human souls could return as bees.

Now scientists and communities have a roadmap for protecting pollinators in unexpected places. Undisturbed green spaces like cemeteries, parks, and even golf courses could harbor similar hidden bee sanctuaries that deserve protection.

Sometimes the smallest creatures teach us the biggest lessons about coexistence.