Rare Species Rediscovered: New York Bee Returns After 119-Year Absence In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of researchers has spotted the elusive chestnut mining bee in New York, marking the first time the species has been seen in the state in 119 years. The chestnut mining bee, a vital pollinator, was once a common sight in the region but had been presumed extinct due to the decline of its primary food source, the American chestnut tree. The tree's devastating blight, caused by the chestnut blight fungus, wiped out an estimated 3-4 billion trees in the early 20th century, threatening the bee's very existence. The rediscovery of this bee species offers new hope for the conservation of this vital pollinator and highlights the importance of preserving biodiversity in the face of environmental degradation.
I discovered the elusive chestnut mining bee in New York after a gap of 119 years The Guardian
