Discreet New Mexico Bumblebee Makes Rare Appearance

Shhhh!:

The re-discovery of a rare species that hadn't been heard from in five decades is causing a buzz among scientists at the University of California, Riverside.

"Cockerell's bumblebee" was originally seen in 1913 when six specimens were found along the Rio Ruidoso in New Mexico.

University of California Riverside scientist, Douglas Yanega said Monday that only 16 were found over the years, all around Ruidoso and nearby Cloudcroft. The last one seen was in 1956.

Yanega says on Aug. 31, three specimens were found on weeds collected along a highway north of Cloudcroft. He says Cockerell's has the most limited range of any of the 50 bumblebee species in the world.

UCR scientists will use the specimens to attempt to prove Cockerell's is its own species and needs more attention.