Monday 30 April 2012

New Bee Species: Human Sweat Bee is Buzzing New York City




A newly found bee species has been creating a buzz in New York after the new breed of bee was discovered to be feeding on human sweat, according to reports. Reports say that the tiny insect is producing very little amount of honey.


Entomologist John Ascher said that the new bee species “use humans as a salt lick. They land on your arm and lap up the sweat.” The 41-year-old Ascher is now looking at a digital catalog of 700,000 bee specimens at the American Museum of Natural History to determine what insect kingdom these new breed of bee belong.


A DNA testing to be conducted by sweat bee specialist Jason Gibbs at Cornell University will confirm the identity of the insect. These bees reportedly prefer sweaty people due to the salty human diet. Reports say that the bees alight on a bare arm or leg almost unnoticeable.


There are about 250 species of native bees in New York City that are usually found in sidewalk cracks, traffic median strips, parks and high-rise balcony flower pots.








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