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Tiny zebra-striped bee found in Somerset for first time
The sea aster mining bee had never been recorded in Somerset or neighbouring counties; it is normally found only on parts of the south and east coasts.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Gloria Vance on BBN After HoursPublished
Photo: Roger Cornfoot · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Gloria Vance on this story, from BBN After Hours at 2:39 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by BBC: “Tiny zebra-striped bee in West a 'huge surprise'”, with reporting from Yahoo News (BBC copy), 10bmnews, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and Burnham-on-Sea.com.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 2:39 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Dr. Nina Byte and Gloria Vance.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- BBCTiny zebra-striped bee in West a 'huge surprise'
- Yahoo News (BBC copy)Tiny zebra-striped bee in West a 'huge surprise' October 27, 2026 · facts used on air
- 10bmnewsRare zebra-striped bee in West a 'huge surprise' - 10bmnews.com facts used on air
- Wildfowl and Wetlands TrustSaltmarsh facts used on air
- Burnham-on-Sea.comRare bee never before recorded in Somerset discovered by local naturalist on Steart Marshes facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentA zebra-striped bee, barely the size of a thumbnail, has been recorded in Somerset for the first time.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNaturalist Nigel Phillips spotted it at Steart Marshes, the BBC reports.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA thumbnail. How does anyone notice that?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentOne man was looking. The site manager says people think of geese and ducks on a saltmarsh, but a lot of life goes unnoticed.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorDoes this affect me?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentOnly if you like saltmarshes.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThis one was farmland until the banks were breached in twenty fourteen. The trust says the restoration made it the perfect home.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorWhat happens next?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt comes out late, timed to the sea aster blooming.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentPhillips thought the species stayed around the Thames estuary, so the bee had the schedule and he had the wrong map.
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Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: United States Geological Survey (USGS) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Federal Bureau of Investigation · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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