Bee found in Amber

The 100 million year-old bee has been found preserved in amber and is from a mine in the Hukawng Valley in northern Burma.

The bee, named Melittosphex burmensis appears to share features from both bees and wasps, supporting theories of bee evolution.

The pollen-dependant bees of today are thought to have evolved away from their carnivorous wasp ancestors with the arrival of flowering plants.

The preserved bee is in a remarkable condition, the 3mm specimen has hairs preserved on undamaged portions of body, legs and head. Its legs and wings are also visible.

Source: BBC Science/Nature [link].