Ithaca, NY – A serendipitous observation by a Cornell University researcher in 2022 has led to the extraordinary discovery of one of the largest and oldest known aggregations of ground-nesting bees ever documented. East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York, a tranquil resting place dating back to 1878, has been identified as home to an estimated 5.5 million individual “regular mining bees” (Andrena regularis) concentrated within a mere 1.5-acre area. This staggering figure, comparable to over 200 honeybee hives and exceeding Manhattan’s human population threefold within that specific footprint, underscores the critical, yet often overlooked, role of urban green spaces in supporting biodiversity and vital agricultural pollinators.
The remarkable discovery began in the spring of 2022 when Rachel Fordyce, then a lab technician at a Cornell University entomology lab, regularly traversed East Lawn Cemetery as a shortcut on her commute. During one of these walks, she noticed an unusual density of bees, swarming across patches of disturbed earth. Intrigued by the sheer numbers, Fordyce collected several specimens in a jar and brought them to her supervisor, Bryan Danforth, a distinguished professor of entomology in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her simple statement, "These are all over the cemetery," ignited a research inquiry that would soon unveil a hidden ecological treasure.
Upon examination, the insects were identified as Andrena regularis, commonly known as the regular mining bee. This solitary wild bee species, unlike the more familiar social honeybees, nests individually underground and plays a crucial, often unsung, role in pollinating a wide array of crops and wild plants. Its presence in such colossal numbers prompted immediate scientific interest, leading to a dedicated study published on April 13 in the journal Apidologie, with Cornell undergraduate researcher Steve Hoge ’24 as the lead author. Hoge, conducting his work under Professor Danforth’s mentorship, found himself documenting a phenomenon of unprecedented scale.
"I’m sure there are other large bee aggregations that exist around the world that we just haven’t identified, but in terms of what is in the literature, this is one of the largest," Hoge remarked, emphasizing the significance of their findings. The research not only shed light on the poorly understood biology of these wild bees but also highlighted their immense importance as pollinators for economically valuable agricultural crops, particularly apples—a signature commodity for New York State.
East Lawn Cemetery: An Unexpected Biodiversity Haven
The question naturally arises: why this particular cemetery? The study delves into the ecological factors that have transformed East Lawn Cemetery into such a vibrant bee haven. Historical records indicate that Andrena regularis has been a resident of the cemetery since at least the early 1900s, suggesting a century-long, stable presence. The cemetery’s fundamental characteristics – peaceful, rarely disturbed land, and crucially, largely free of pesticides – create an ideal environment for ground-nesting species. These conditions stand in stark contrast to many agricultural landscapes and urban developments where chemical treatments and habitat disruption are common.
Keven Morse, superintendent of East Lawn Cemetery, whose family has managed the nonprofit grounds for 46 years, corroborated the long-standing observation of abundant wildlife. "And of course, bees," he noted, adding that despite their numbers, the bees have never been aggressive. Morse even expressed a degree of protective concern, stating, "I just felt bad having to mow in certain areas. There’s probably three or four sections where they really migrate heavy, there’s a lot of them." This informal stewardship, coupled with the cemetery’s inherent landscape features, has inadvertently fostered a thriving ecosystem.
The discovery at East Lawn Cemetery strengthens a growing scientific consensus that older cemeteries, especially those within urban or suburban settings, can act as vital refuges for biodiversity. These green spaces often contain mature trees, undisturbed soil, and diverse flora, sheltering uncommon plants, insects, birds, and mammals that struggle to survive in more intensely managed areas. They function as critical "green infrastructure," connecting fragmented habitats and providing ecological services within developed landscapes.
Unpacking the Biology of the Regular Mining Bee
While honeybees (Apis mellifera) often dominate public attention and conservation efforts, it is crucial to remember that approximately 75% of bee species worldwide are solitary ground nesters, much like Andrena regularis. "It’s the most common lifestyle for bees," Professor Danforth explained, underscoring the ecological norm. These solitary bees do not produce honey or live in communal hives but are indispensable for native plant reproduction and crop pollination.
When Steve Hoge embarked on his research, he was surprised by the paucity of detailed scientific information available on A. regularis. One of the most comprehensive references dated back to 1978, highlighting a significant knowledge gap that the Cornell team was uniquely positioned to fill. This presented an invaluable opportunity to extensively document the bee’s biology and lifecycle.
Female Andrena regularis are industrious architects of their underground homes. Each female constructs individual nests, meticulously excavating tunnels and chambers beneath the soil surface. Within these cells, she deposits a single egg, provisioning it with a carefully prepared mixture of pollen and nectar—a vital food source for the developing larva. The larvae undergo metamorphosis underground, eventually emerging as adults. A unique characteristic of this species, relatively rare among bees, is that they overwinter as adults. This allows them to emerge exceptionally early in the spring, perfectly timed with the bloom of apple trees and other early-season fruit trees and wildflowers. In New York, their emergence typically coincides with daytime temperatures consistently reaching around 70 degrees Fahrenheit in April.
The proximity of Cornell Orchards, located just about a third of a mile from the cemetery, likely plays a significant role in sustaining such a massive bee population. The abundant spring blossoms from the orchards provide a rich and consistent food supply for the emerging bees. Furthermore, Professor Danforth noted that Andrena regularis exhibits a strong preference for sandy soil, a characteristic feature found in large quantities throughout East Lawn Cemetery, providing ideal nesting substrate.
Innovative Methodology: Counting Millions of Bees
Estimating a population of millions of tiny insects across a natural landscape presents a formidable challenge. To accurately quantify the bee population and study their emergence patterns, the Cornell research team employed an innovative monitoring method involving "emergence traps." These small, tent-like structures, typically less than a square meter in area, are placed directly over sections of ground. They are designed to funnel any emerging insects upwards into attached glass jars, allowing researchers to capture and count them without disturbing the nests.
"You capture a whole community of animals coming out of the ground with this approach," Professor Danforth described, highlighting the method’s utility for broader ecological surveys. Between March 30 and May 16, 2023, the research team strategically deployed 10 such traps across various sections of the cemetery. Their meticulous efforts yielded a total of 3,251 insects, representing 16 distinct species of bees, beetles, and flies. Overwhelmingly, Andrena regularis dominated the samples, confirming its numerical supremacy within the site.
Using the data collected from these traps, researchers calculated the average bee density per square meter across the cemetery’s approximately 6,000 square meters. Based on these calculations, the estimated total population ranged from a conservative 3 million to an astonishing 8 million bees, with the most robust average estimate settling at 5.5 million individuals. This rigorous methodology provided a scientifically sound basis for the extraordinary population count.
Beyond mere numbers, the traps also offered invaluable insights into the emergence timing differences between male and female bees. Male A. regularis consistently appeared first during the warmer periods of April, preceding the females by several days. This protandry, where males emerge before females, is a common reproductive strategy in many insect species. As Hoge explained, "The males come out first and wait for the females, so that they have the best opportunities to mate and pass on their genes." This early emergence increases their chances of encountering newly emerged, receptive females, maximizing reproductive success.
Ecological Interplay: Parasitism and Conservation Concerns
The study also shed light on the intricate ecological relationships within the bee aggregation, documenting instances of brood parasitism by another bee species, Nomada imbricata, commonly known as the nomad or "cuckoo" bee. These parasitic bees exhibit a cunning strategy: they wait until female Andrena regularis have painstakingly prepared their underground brood cells and provisioned them with pollen and nectar. Nomada imbricata females then stealthily lay their own eggs inside these cells. Once the nomad larvae hatch, they mercilessly kill the host Andrena regularis larvae and consume the precious food stores intended for the mining bee’s offspring. This parasitic relationship is a natural part of the ecosystem but highlights the delicate balance and pressures faced by even abundant species.
The discovery at East Lawn Cemetery carries profound implications for conservation. Wild bee populations globally are facing unprecedented declines due to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and disease. The economic value of wild pollinators to global agriculture is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars annually, with these unsung heroes contributing significantly to crop yields far beyond what managed honeybee colonies provide. For example, wild bees are often more efficient at pollinating certain crops, like apples, due to their specific foraging behaviors and body structures. Losing these natural populations would have devastating economic and ecological consequences.
Professor Danforth and his colleagues are acutely aware of the vulnerability of such massive aggregations. To proactively locate and protect similar nesting sites, they have launched a global citizen science initiative. This program encourages people worldwide to report ground-nesting bee aggregations they encounter, leveraging public participation to expand scientific knowledge and identify critical conservation areas. "These populations are huge, and they need protection," Danforth stressed. "If we don’t preserve nest sites, and someone paves over them, we could lose in an instant 5.5 million bees that are important pollinators."
Broader Impact and Future Directions
The Ithaca discovery serves as a powerful reminder that significant ecological treasures can exist in unexpected places, often hidden in plain sight within our developed landscapes. It challenges conventional notions of conservation, demonstrating that urban cemeteries, with their unique land-use patterns and undisturbed conditions, can serve as invaluable biodiversity reservoirs. This insight has implications for urban planning, encouraging municipalities to recognize and protect these spaces not just for their cultural and historical value but also for their ecological contributions. Incorporating "bee-friendly" management practices, such as minimizing pesticide use and preserving undisturbed soil patches, could turn more urban green spaces into critical pollinator refuges.
The study’s success is a testament to the collaborative spirit of scientific inquiry. The research team included not only lead author Steve Hoge and Professor Bryan Danforth but also postdoctoral researchers Jordan Kueneman and Katherine Odanaka, undergraduate student Cassidy Dobler ’26, and lab technician Rachel Fordyce, whose initial observation sparked the entire investigation. Funding for this pivotal research was generously provided by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the National Science Foundation, and the Federal Capacity Funds program, underscoring the recognized importance of pollinator research.
As scientists continue to monitor the Andrena regularis population at East Lawn Cemetery, the site stands as a living laboratory, offering unprecedented opportunities to study solitary bee ecology, population dynamics, and resilience. This remarkable aggregation not only highlights the intrinsic value of wild pollinators but also provides a compelling narrative for the urgent need to protect and cherish the often-unseen natural wonders that sustain our ecosystems and agricultural systems. The humble cemetery in Ithaca has become a beacon of hope for wild bee conservation, proving that even in death, life can find a way to flourish spectacularly.
