These ancient bumblebees were found with their pollen source
Insects have been pollinating plants for a long time, but a direct link is rare
Ancient pollen (center) links a fossil bumblebee (Bombus messegus) (left) with nearby fossil flowers (right). Pollen-coated bees were found in the same sediment as the pollen-holding flowers, dating the relationship to 24 million years ago.
From left: Sonja Wedmann; Johannes M. Bouchal; Christian Geier