Insect researchers are buzzing in Florida this week over the rediscovery of the blue bee, a rare little creature thought to have gone extinct shortly after it was discovered. Researchers in Florida say the blue calamintha bee (Osmia calaminthae) has been spotted for the first time since 2016, stoking hopes that it might be possible to save the insect from extinction. Blue calamintha bees nest alone and feed on Ashe’s Calamint, a threatened plant found only in Florida. The bees were first recorded in 2011 and dropped out of sight a few years later, despite calls to protect their threatened habitat in central Florida. Researchers at the museum have launched a two-year study to learn more about the bee’s numbers and habits, particularly since it can only be found in one tiny tract of forest. They know that the bee nests alone but they’ve never actually found one of its nests. They’ve also learned that it likes to bob its head around on top of flowers to collect as much pollen as possible on its tiny hairs. The bee is a hyper-local species that likely evolved around an isolated patch of sand dunes along the central Florida ridge, at the museum. They hope to figure out exactly how many of the bees live in the area. Having this bee in more abundance than we expected is really encouraging for its survival. An extremely rare blue bee that was last seen four years ago has been rediscovered by a researcher at the Florida Museum of Natural History. The metallic navy insect, a blue calamintha bee, had only been previously found in four areas "totaling just 16 square miles of pine scrub habitat at Central Florida's Lake Wales Ridge," the Florida Museum said in a news release. The discovery marks an incredible breakthrough as scientists race to learn more about the blue bee, which is currently listed by Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan as a species of greatest conservation need.

 Surviving in a disappearing ecosystem

While finding a blue calamintha has reassured scientists that the bee is still present despite the impact humans have had on their environment, there is still little known about the species' behavior, biology, and habitat needs. Before the discovery, the blue bees were only found in four locations along the southern portion of the Lake Wales Ridge.  It is still very rare and can take many hours and days to find it which reinforces how rare it can be. Its presence is highly associated with Ashe's calamint, so the bee may influence how well the plant is pollinated which can affect the plant's survivorship. It is very important to continue investigating the relationship between the bee and the plant host or hosts and its influence on the environment itself. Researchers discovered another plant the bee visits when it cannot find Ashe's calamint. However, the threatened plant species isn't the only risk to the bee's survival.
Blue calamintha bees are endemic to Florida, and have only been found in scrub habitat in the Lake Wales Ridge -- one of the nation's fastest-disappearing ecosystems. It's one thing to read about habitat loss and development and another to be driving for 30-40 minutes through miles of orange groves just to get to a really small conservation site."It puts into perspective how much habitat loss affects all the animals that live in this area."
Part of the pair's project, funded by a grant administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will help determine whether blue calaminthas qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act. A solitary native bee, the blue calamintha does not live in a large colony. Each female builds a nest, and does not care for its young. The project will also allow scientists to learn more about the bee's nesting habits and preferences, none of which is currently known to scientists.

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