In einer Höhle in der Karibik entdeckten Forscher Hunderte Fossilien mit Bienennestern darin. Laut einer neuen Studie ist es das erste Mal, dass Bienen Knochen zum Nisten und Eierlegen nutzen.

Contrary to popular depictions of bee nests as large, intricate hives that hang from trees, the majority of bee species — [about 90%](https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/five-myths-about-bees-the-truth-about-these-remarkable-insects/#:~:text=Ninety%20percent%20of%20the%20world's,Mind%2Dblown.) — are actually solitary and build their nests in the ground or within rotting logs and the stems of plants.

[But researchers recently discovered](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/science/ancient-bee-nests-fossils-cave?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit) what is perhaps one of the most peculiar nesting spots: Inside a limestone cave on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, a hoard of fossilized bones — some from now-extinct animals — was home to tiny ancient bee nests built within the empty tooth sockets. It is the first time bees have been recorded using bones to nest and lay eggs, according [to a study](https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.251748) published Tuesday in the journal Royal Society Open Science.“It was very surprising, because you never find invertebrates there — you find snails, but you don’t find insects,” said lead author Lázaro Viñola-López, a postdoctoral researcher at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. “Usually what you find in this cave are rodents, birds, like all that fauna. So, finding evidence of ancient bees in those cave deposits was very exciting. The first time we have that in the Caribbean.”

The findings help to fill a gap in the fossil record since all other bee fossils described in the Caribbean were discovered within amber and are much older, dating back around 20 million years, Viñola-López explained.

The study authors believe that fossils housing the bee nests date back to around 20,000 years ago and could shed light on how bees have adapted to their environment, even in the ancient past.

And I thought dry socket after having your wisdom teeth pulled was bad…

All jokes aside, this is amazing.