The oldest known bee, Trigona prisca, is approximately 85 million years old.
This ancient bee was discovered perfectly preserved in amber. The fossil is significant because it belongs to the Trigona genus, a group of stingless bees still found in South America today. The fact that the fossil bee is indistinguishable from modern Trigona species suggests that social bee behavior and morphology were already well-established at that time. This discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution of bees and their social structures.
