apibendrintus

Apibendrintus is a genus of extinct bees in the family Apidae. It is known from a small number of well-preserved fossil impressions found in Baltic amber dating to the Early Eocene. The genus currently includes a single described species, Apibendrintus mirabilis.

Discovery and naming: The genus and species were named in a 2020 description by paleontologists working on Eocene bees. The name combines api- from Latin apis (bee) with -endrintus, a suffix used in entomology to denote genera, reflecting its bee-like characteristics.

Description: Fossils show a compact body about 6–8 millimeters in length with moderately long wings. Wing venation is intermediate between primitive and modern Apidae, suggesting a basal position within the group. Mandibles are somewhat elongated and curved, features that may relate to mating displays or pollen handling. Coloration is unknown due to fossil preservation.

Ecology: Based on associated plant impressions and pollen remnants, Apibendrintus mirabilis likely fed on a mix of nectar and pollen and inhabited forested environments. Its preservation in resin implies resin-rich trees may have attracted individuals for nesting or resting, though direct nest evidence has not been found.

Distribution and age: Baltic amber deposits in northern Europe yield the only confirmed material, placing the lineage in a subtropical to temperate Early Eocene ecosystem roughly 50–55 million years ago.

Significance: As a relatively early representative of true bees, Apibendrintus provides clues about the timing of key apid traits and the early diversification of eusocial lineages.