2023-09-08 18:15:17
This male bee of the Eucera genus in the chrysalis phase but practically adult and ready to leave its cell, will never be able to do so, since it died about three thousand years ago. Surprisingly, an unusual natural mummification process has preserved it and several hundred conspecifics very well in the chrysalis phase. The discovery of such unique bee corpses was made in a paleontological site, unknown until recently, which is located on the coast of Odemira, Portugal.
The image has been obtained by scanning with X-ray microcomputed tomography. In this way, it has been possible to see the inside of the sealed cell.
The side shown of the animal is its belly. His face is also clearly visible.
The study was carried out by a team led by Carlos Neto de Carvalho, from the University of Lisbon in Portugal.
The degree of preservation of the bodies is so good that the authors of the new study have been able to identify not only the anatomical details that denote what type of bee it is, but also its sex and even the pollen that served as the basis for its creation. nutrition.
Death surprised these bees in a way that did not destroy their bodies.
(Image: Federico Bernardini / ICTP)
The study is titled “Eucerabees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Eucerini) preserved in their brood cells from late Holocene (middle Neoglacial) palaeosols of southwest Portugal.” And it has been published in the academic journal Papers in Palaeontology. (Source: NCYT from Amazings)
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