ITHACA, N.Y., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Eleven new bee species, including one named for New York City, have been discovered in the eastern United States, Cornell University researchers say.
Lasioglossum gotham is one of the new bees discovered and earned its "Gotham" tag because it is one of four found living in New York City and its suburbs, researchers said in a release Thursday.
All eleven of the newly discovered species are tiny "sweat bees," so-called for their attraction to the salt in human sweat.
"It's remarkable that so many bees are able to live in such a major urban area," Cornell entomologist Jason Gibbs said. "Natural areas like urban parks and rooftop and botanical gardens provide the nesting sites and floral diversity that bees need."
"Bees are vitally important pollinators but there is a great deal we still need to learn about our native species," he said.
Gibbs' research was in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History.
