History
Bees don’t leave normal fossils behind because their exoskeleton isn’t nearly as long lasting as bones. However, like other insects, ancient bees could become trapped in amber, preserving their bodies for scientists to discover later. And discover they did. Scientists have determined the bees appeared during the Cretaceous period, the age of T-rex. Not surprisingly, this is when flowers appeared as well. Before bees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators came along, plants had to rely on the wind for cross-pollination. But with flying insects hopping from plant to plant, drinking nectar and collecting pollen, the process became so much more effective. Plants began to develop tastier nectar and better landing spots to attract more bees, while bees became smaller to better reach deep into plants. All this occurred against the backdrop of dinosaurs, and while the terrible lizards are no more, the bees and flowers have survived and thrived.