Deep inside a layer of ancient sediment in Japan, researchers uncovered a fossil bee that had been waiting for millions of years to tell a forgotten story. A fossil bee discovered in Japan has revealed a forgotten stage in the evolution of modern honeybees. The specimen helps connect ancient honeybee remains with genetic studies that have suggested when modern groups first appeared. The last group contains the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) and its closest relatives. Ancient Fossil Hidden in Japan for Millions of YearsThe newly described species Apis aibai was found in the Teragi Group, a formation of volcanic and lake sediments in Hyogo prefecture, Japan.