An estimated 5.5 million subterranean bees of the species Andrena regularis have been discovered thriving for over a century in a 1.5-acre section of East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York, according to WIRED. This immense, long-standing colony reveals the profound, often overlooked, ecological value embedded within human-modified landscapes.
Cemeteries are designed as places for the dead, but this one is teeming with millions of living, thriving subterranean bees, creating a striking tension between its intended purpose and its vibrant ecological reality.
This discovery suggests that urban and suburban landscapes may harbor far more hidden ecological resilience and biodiversity than previously recognized, necessitating a re-evaluation of conservation priorities.
A Century of Hidden Life
Approximately 5.5 million individual bees, identified as Andrena regularis, occupy a 1.5-acre area of East Lawn Cemetery, according to The Weather Network and Discover Wildlife. The sheer density and longevity of this solitary bee colony within such a confined, human-managed space challenges conventional assumptions about urban ecological capacity. It demonstrates that even seemingly ordinary urban plots can harbor extraordinary, long-term biodiversity if specific environmental conditions are met.
Unearthing an Ecological Marvel
Bee population estimates for the East Lawn Cemetery colony vary, with some reports indicating a range from 3 million to 8 million individuals, according to Good News Network. Other sources like WIRED and The Weather Network consistently report approximately 5.5 million bees, suggesting this figure serves as a specific point estimate within a broader, less precise range.
