Researchers from Cornell University announced on April 17 that they have discovered one of the largest and oldest bee colonies ever recorded underneath East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York.
The finding is significant because it highlights the role cemeteries can play as important habitats for pollinators, especially ground-nesting bees, which are often overlooked in scientific studies.
According to a study published in Apidologie, scientists estimated that about 5.56 million miner bees emerged across the cemetery’s 70,000 square feet during spring of 2023. Bryan Danforth, senior author of the study and professor at Cornell University, said to Scientific American that he was “completely floored when we did the calculations.” He added: “I have seen published estimates of bee aggregations in the hundreds of thousands. But I have never imagined that it would be 5.56 million bees.”
To put this number into perspective, researchers explained it would be similar to finding between 140 and 270 honey bee hives—each with up to 40,000 bees—in just one hectare.
The study also pointed out that cemeteries are increasingly viewed as biodiversity preserves for native plants and animals within urban environments. The authors referenced previous research describing cemeteries as “sentinels of biodiversity where the dead protect the living” and emphasized their value for supporting species like miner bees.
Despite their importance for human food systems through pollination services, ground-nesting bees face risks such as habitat loss, pesticides, and disease. The researchers suggest actions like rewilding yards or planting native species could help local pollinator populations thrive.
