Underground Haven: 5.5 Million Mining Bees Nest Beneath an Ithaca Cemetery
Cornell researchers estimate about 5.5 million Andrena regularis mining bees nest underground beneath East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, NY, likely for more than a century across roughly 1.5 acres. The undisturbed soil and limited disturbance create a stable nesting habitat, highlighting the importance of overlooked sites like cemeteries for ground-nesting pollinators and their potential role in supporting nearby crops, while noting threats from habitat loss and pesticides.
