Elusive bee — ‘lost for decades’ — found in California, experts say. ‘Hopeful news’
When an elusive insect wasn’t found during initial surveys in California between 2017 to 2022, a research group set out to find them.
Tamalpais Bee Lab, a branch of One Tam, created a search party to look for “the rare San Francisco leaf-cutter bee (Trachusa gummifera)” that was “lost for decades,” the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy said in an Aug. 6 news release.
Then, the team found the bee on public lands in Marin County — the first documented sighting of the insect in the area since 1980, according to the conservancy.
“It’s a big win and highlights the benefits of our One Tam collaboration,” Mischon Martin with Marin County Parks said in the release.
One Tam, a partnership among the National Park Service, California State Parks, Marin Water, Marin County Parks, and the nonprofit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, ensures “the long-term health of Mt. Tamalpais,” the conservancy said.
The species, “endemic to the Bay Area,” has been documented less than 100 times, the conservancy said.
“It is only known from a few historical records, (and) has been missing for decades,” according to the National Park Service.
Hillary Sardiñas with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in the release that it’s exciting to “find a bee that hasn’t been seen in so long.”
“If a species turns up after 50 years, it gives us hope that others are still out there, too,” Sardiñas said.
Trachusa gummifera is considered a “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” by the CDFW, according to the conservancy.
But little is known “about this species’ biology and ecology,” NPS said.
“This is hopeful news in a time when we are hearing a lot about trouble for insects, especially pollinators,” Sara Leon Guerrero, a program manager with the conservancy who manages the lab and made the first sighting, said in the release.
Now that the species has been found, “One Tam is working with CDFW to obtain the permits necessary to continue investigating this special status species,” according to the conservancy.
“We’re excited for what’s next — the chance to learn more about this species that’s largely unknown to us, and to invite the community to learn along with us,” Guerrero said.
This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Elusive bee — ‘lost for decades’ — found in California, experts say. ‘Hopeful news’."
