Honeycomb fossil in Dominican Amber: a unique discovery

The honeycomb-like structure in Dominican amber is a subject of debate among researchers. While some argue it could have been constructed by social wasps, the prevailing consensus suggests it was likely made by a stingless bee species from the genus Melipona (Apidae: Meliponini).

Key details about the specimen:

• Cell Diameter: Approximately 10 mm.
• Age: Dominican amber typically dates to the Miocene epoch, around 15–20 million years ago.
• Controversy: The primary dispute centers on whether the nest was built by bees or social wasps, but morphological evidence leans toward bees.

Significance:

This fossil nest provides rare insights into the behavior of ancient bees, particularly their social nesting habits. If confirmed as Melipona, it would reinforce the evolutionary longevity of advanced eusocial traits in stingless bees. The debate underscores the importance of verifying amber provenance and using precise morphological analysis to distinguish between bees and wasps in fossils.

For further study, examining the cell structure (e.g., symmetry, material) and comparing it to modern Melipona nests does strengthen the bee hypothesis.

Based on the presence of scavengers and the melted portions of the nest in the Dominican amber, we can draw the following conclusions:

1. The Nest Was Likely Built by Bees (Meliponini), Not Wasps

• Melted Resin: Paper wasp nests (made of plant fibers mixed with saliva) are highly resistant to melting when exposed to resin. If parts of the nest appear melted, it suggests the original material was more resin-compatible—consistent with stingless bee nests, which are constructed using cerumen (a mix of wax and resin).
• Scavengers: The presence of scavengers (e.g., mites, beetles) inside the nest aligns with bee behavior. Stingless bee colonies often host symbiotic or parasitic arthropods, whereas wasp nests are less likely to preserve such fauna due to their aggressive defense and cleaner nesting habits.
  

2. The Fossil Represents a Genuine Ancient Bee Nest

• The melting effect and scavengers support the idea that this structure was embedded naturally in resin while active, rather than being a contaminant or a fake (unlike the disputed Trigona prisca or Meliponorytes devictus examples mentioned earlier).
  
• The 10-mm cell size matches modern Melipona species, further supporting its identification.
  

Final Conclusion

The combined evidence—melted resin integration, scavenger presence, and cell morphology—strongly suggests this is a fossilized stingless bee nest (Meliponini), not a wasp construct. This provides rare behavioral evidence of bees’ social nesting habits in the Miocene (~15–20 mya).

Why This Matters:

• Confirms that stingless bees had complex nesting behaviors similar to modern relatives.
  
• Highlights the importance of taphonomy (how fossils form) in distinguishing between bees and wasps in amber.
  
• Reinforces Dominican amber as a key source for studying ancient social insects.

You will find articles in the following Scientific publication:

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