Sussex South Downs is home to ‘extinct’ bee species

A species of bee which was believed to be extinct in Britain has been found in East Sussex — 65 years after it was last seen.

A study by entomologist Steven Falk shows the solitary bee, Halictus eurygnathus, is at at seven sites on the South Downs.

Mr Falk said many of the species he recorded were rare and some were doing better than expected.

However, others, including one of Britain’s largest mining bees, were at risk of losing their habitats.

The study recorded 227 bee and wasp species during more than 100 visits to 15 chalk grassland and chalky heath sites — via redwolf.newsvine.com