Oregon State Researchers Discover World’s Oldest Bee

Researchers say the finding is key to learning more about the evolution of flowering plants.

(CORVALLIS) - Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered the oldest bee ever known, a 100-million-year-old specimen preserved in almost lifelike form in amber and an important link to help explain the rapid expansion of flowering plants during that distant period.

The findings and their evolutionary significance are outlined in an article to be published this week in the journal Science.

The specimen, at least 35-45 million years older than any other known bee fossil, has given rise to a newly-named family called Melittosphecidae – insects that share some of the features of both bees and wasps. It supports the theory that pollen-dependent bees evolved from their meat-eating predecessors, the wasps.

“This is the oldest known bee we’ve ever been able to identify, and it shares some of the features of wasps,” said George Poinar, a professor of zoology at OSU and international expert in the study of life forms preserved in ancient amber. “But overall it’s more bee than wasp, and gives us a pretty good idea of when these two types of insects were separating on their evolutionary paths.”

Just as important, Poinar said, the discovery points to the mechanism that could have allowed for the rapid expansion and diversity of flowering plants around that time – the “angiosperms” that depend on some mechanism other than wind to spread their seeds. Prior to that, the world was dominated by “gymnosperms,” largely conifer trees, which used wind for pollination and re-seeding.

These changes took place during the Cretaceous Period, which lasted from 65.5 million to 145.5 million years ago. The earliest angiosperms didn’t really begin to spread rapidly until a little over 100 million years ago, a time that appears to correspond with the evolution of bees seen in the new fossil.

“Flowering plants are very important in the evolution of life,” Poinar said. “They can reproduce more quickly, develop more genetic diversity, spread more easily and move into new habitats. But prior to the evolution of bees they didn’t have any strong mechanism to spread their pollen, only a few flies and beetles that didn’t go very far.”

The amber specimen Poinar studied, which came from a mine in the Hukawng Valley of northern Myanmar (also known as Burma), has certain features that resemble wasps, such as a double spine on the middle tibia and narrow hind legs. But it also has branched hairs all over its body and other key features characteristic of pollen-spreading bees. This species, named Melittosphex burmensis, is long extinct.

“In archaeology, a lot of people look at the species Archaeopteryx, which is believed to be the first bird and was sort of half-bird, half-reptile,” Poinar said. “Species such as that can be critically important in helping us to understand when evolution went in different directions. In that sense, this fossil may help us understand when wasps, which were mostly just meat-eating carnivores, turned into bees that could pollinate plants and serve a completely different biological function.”

Flowering plants, among other things, account for practically all of the food plants on Earth and much of the food supply for humans and many other animal species. There are now about 20,000 species of bees, which use pollen to feed their young, and over millions of years they have created numerous physical and behavioral adaptations to make them some of Earth’s most effective pollinators.

Considering its age, the bee specimen itself is in remarkable condition, showing individual hairs on undamaged portions of its thorax, legs, abdomen and head. The legs and wings are clearly visible. It’s a very small bee, consistent with evidence that some of the earliest Cretaceous flowers were also quite small.

Insects trapped in amber, researchers say, often provide some of the most vivid and lifelike glimpses into the distant past. Amber is a semi-precious stone that begins as tree sap, which can ooze down and trap insects or other small things, then ultimately fossilize. It’s also a natural embalming agent that can protect and display specimens in nearly perfect, three-dimensional form millions of years later.

This phenomenon has been invaluable in scientific and ecological research, and among other things, formed the scientific premise in the movie “Jurassic Park” for the “dinosaur DNA” found in mosquitoes. Poinar, one of the world’s experts in the study of amber, also has used it to provide a vivid re-creation of an ancient forest in the book "The Amber Forest: A Reconstruction of a Vanished World."

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

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Larry November 20, 2006 8:22 am (Pacific time)

Interesting, the photo only leads me to believe the bee did not evolve and looks just like several bees I have encountered....And damn!!!bees 30million years old, still foraging for pollen, and still making honey...hint:wasps don't gather pollen...Wow!!!wasps don't gather pollen!!!I know, I know, going back to my cave now, bad Jehudi!!

Grace November 1, 2006 7:59 pm (Pacific time)

Someone sent me this article and I think it's cool to know that they can find fossils so old.

Bill October 31, 2006 2:49 pm (Pacific time)

why are there always people that choose to make an issue of religion? Scared maybe? The truth is all around us open your eyes and your heart. God Bless

browninggold October 31, 2006 12:39 pm (Pacific time)

anyone can see thats not amber-its his force shield

Curt October 31, 2006 10:51 am (Pacific time)

Interesting how this bee is older than the Earth, but I have a clear explanation: Obviously, this bee is an extraterrestrial who flew perhaps billions of light yers on an asteroid just to visit us. Oddly, he wasn't wearing his bee suit when he was trapped in amber, so the question remains how he remained warm and oxygenated during that long, long journey. Nonetheless, I think it was downright neighborly of him to give us a visit. I only hope his relatives on his home planet are not wondering in vain what happened to him. (Poor little guy!)

Charlie October 31, 2006 10:20 am (Pacific time)

Interesting that even in the article they have confused anthropology with paleontology.

phil ziner October 31, 2006 10:04 am (Pacific time)

in this article poinar speaks about archaeopteryx. why would he at this time believe something that was proved to be a hoax in 1985, in which mr fred hoyle a stonch evolutionist particapted in the scientific testing that proved the speciman fake.

N. Moreno October 31, 2006 9:48 am (Pacific time)

For those of you who are too stupid to realize that the bible does not reject Evolution or else why is there a Universe so expansive, He Created It didn't he? What is 6 days to god 60 billion to us! stupid

Alex October 31, 2006 9:41 am (Pacific time)

This is cool stuff! Let's go find a dinosaur in amber

PHIL ZINER October 31, 2006 9:40 am (Pacific time)

RIDICULE and put downs achieve nothing for any party involved. although it does show the ignorance of the persons involved. This article does leave out hard scientific fact. just because a person holds more degrees then a thermometer. does not make a philosphy correct. there MUST be scientific basis for any ones claim. 0 0=0

Bubbee October 31, 2006 9:20 am (Pacific time)

I think that this is fascinating--I luv Brett

Anonymous October 31, 2006 9:16 am (Pacific time)

I need a banana!

Allyson October 31, 2006 8:31 am (Pacific time)

I think this is fasinating. I also think we all have our own beliefs, I do believe there is a greater power out there, but how can you dispute hard evidence of evolution? We all have opinions and you know what they say about those...

Bob Dobalina October 31, 2006 8:31 am (Pacific time)

Does anyone know where I can get my hands on that amber? It would make a nice set of cufflinks.

Garoof October 31, 2006 8:16 am (Pacific time)

I guess I missed the Bible verse where Jesus said evolution is a hoax? Could someone help?

Not as smart as you October 31, 2006 7:56 am (Pacific time)

Why is it that whenever I read an article like this one there is always a group of comments from people who think they have to show the online world that they know more than the researchers who are simply stating what they've found? Those same people can't seem to get a grasp on proper grammer. Go figure!

Guy October 31, 2006 7:51 am (Pacific time)

Fascinating. Makes me more interested in Archaeology and Anthropology. Continue your excellent work.

Jackie October 31, 2006 7:06 am (Pacific time)

I love stuff like this. Shows we are not the be-all and end-all but just part of a HUGE tapestry. Thank you for sharing.

Truth 2 October 31, 2006 7:01 am (Pacific time)

100 million plus or minus a few billion! evolution? Look into truth- Jesus

The REAL Truth October 31, 2006 6:54 am (Pacific time)

The generally accepted age for the Earth and the rest of the solar system is about 4.55 billion years (plus or minus about 1%).

the real truth October 31, 2006 5:37 am (Pacific time)

How can a bee be found that is older than the earth? 100 million is only 1/46th the age of the earth (4.6 billion years). Maybe some of us need to be better educated (Geology and Anthropology) instead of burying their heads in the sand or trusting some ignorant pastor. The truth is that We DID evolve from apes, but not you, you must be an alien! [The Scopes trial continues]

Renaissance Scientist October 31, 2006 5:31 am (Pacific time)

Thank you for this article. Very intereting to find new branches in the evolutionary tree.

truth October 31, 2006 12:25 am (Pacific time)

how can a bee be found that is older than the earth? 100 million? I think not. maybe 10 thousand! maybe some of us DID come from apes, but not me!

Lanre October 30, 2006 9:40 pm (Pacific time)

nice job folks!

O.G October 30, 2006 9:36 pm (Pacific time)

Are those resins or propolis?

Cool October 30, 2006 6:04 pm (Pacific time)

Wondering how they figured it was 100 million years old? I love the Discovery Channel when they have episodes about the many different bees and ants. Slaver ants were interesting.

Rhiptide October 30, 2006 4:56 pm (Pacific time)

I would like to know if the amber infiltrates the creatures it traps completely or are there still clear remnants of the creatures DNA?

Anonymous October 30, 2006 4:53 pm (Pacific time)

This was a neat story I never new there were other types of bees That did not produce honey.

Frodo October 30, 2006 3:55 pm (Pacific time)

Cool. I need to tell my class about somthing tomorrow so I'll used this! Hee hee!

Cantish October 30, 2006 3:00 pm (Pacific time)

Aw Cute

Barbara October 30, 2006 1:46 pm (Pacific time)

Found it an interesting story of both bee evolution and petrified tree resin as a natural preservative.

Amanda Kinney October 30, 2006 1:37 pm (Pacific time)

Very interesting! I loved the story.

John Gohlke October 30, 2006 1:30 pm (Pacific time)

Your "oldest bee" dissertation mentions Archaeopteryx, but fails to mention examples of more complex aviary species found that signifantly predate Archaeopteryx. Are we going to find similar flaws in these dating techniques? Have the methods been modified to support a wish?

Voni Wolff of MN October 30, 2006 1:30 pm (Pacific time)

I am fasinated with this find I learned where Amber comes from too Thank you for the story

Bees Are Fun October 30, 2006 12:07 pm (Pacific time)

BZZZZZZZzzzzzzz

manjit singh panesar October 30, 2006 11:37 am (Pacific time)

i am very much fasinated and pleased about this magnificent discovery

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