Ceratina buscki is a bee species endemic to Costa Rica where it has been recorded in the provinces of Guanacaste, Heredia, San Jose, Cartago, and Limon. Based on known collection records, this species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of at least 10,687 km². The area of occupancy (AOO) is unknown, as this species has not been well surveyed, and the distribution is not well understood. Until additional occurrences can be verified, the species is considered to be found in 10 locations, representing each of 10 known occurrence localities. Three of these collection localities are in or near urban areas, where the main threat is habitat loss to urbanization. Another five are within agricultural areas, where habitat conversion and pesticide use may be problematic. The remaining two occurrences are in forested areas where the main threats are deforestation and habitat alteration due to climate change. Because of these threats, continuing decline in area and quality of habitat is inferred. Therefore, this species is assessed as Vulnerable under criterion B1ab(iii). This species has not been collected since 1995, so survey efforts are urgently needed. 

This species is endemic to Costa Rica, where it has been recorded in the provinces of Guanacaste, Heredia, San Jose, Cartago, and Limon (ECOSUR 2020, GBIF.org 2020). Records of this species collected in Venezuela in 1942 need to be verified. 

Based on known collection records, this species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of at least 10,687 km². The area of occupancy (AOO) is unknown, as this species has not been well surveyed, and the distribution is not well understood. Until additional occurrences can be verified, the species is considered to be found in 10 locations, representing each of 10 known occurrence localities. Three of these collection localities are in or near urban areas, where the main threat is habitat loss to urbanization. Another five are within agricultural areas, where habitat conversion and pesticide use may be problematic. The remaining two occurrences are in forested areas where the main threats are deforestation and habitat alteration due to climate change (Global Forest Watch 2014).

Occurrence records for this and other bee species native to Mesoamerica, were compiled by experts from el Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur). The resulting database, which contains 355,445 records for 1,387 bee species, includes records from surveys conducted by the Ecosur Bee Team as well as data compiled from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (ECOSUR 2020, GBIF.org 2020).

The population size and trend are not known for this species, as no studies have been conducted to examine population trends in the Mesoamerican bee fauna. In a bee data compilation effort, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur) found 184 specimen records for this species, from ten discrete localities. This is average compared to other species, suggesting this species may not be rare. However, there are no recent collection records for this species. It has net been recorded since 1995.

Information on the habitats and ecology of bees in Mesoamerica is scarce to non-existent. However, based on the ecoregion types where the species has been recorded, it can be inferred that the species can be found in a variety of habitats from the tropical wet forests of the Central American Isthmus, within the Guanacaste Volcanic Uplands, Pacific Volcanic Lowlands, and the Caribbean Coastal Plains and Hills (Griffith et al. 1998, Dinerstein et al. 2017).

The Ceratina of Mesoamerica are not well studied. However, species in this genus typically nest in broken dead stems or twigs. Cells are unlined and cylindrical and are partitioned by pith particles, which are only loosely held together, as no adhesive is used (Michener 2007). Nests are generally solitary. Parthenogenesis is known in some species (Michener 2007). Most species are polylectic (Wilson and Carril 2016). This species has been recorded in all months of the year (GBIF.org 2020). 

Direct threats to this species are not well understood. However, major threats to bees in Mesoamerica, such as urbanization, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, exotic species, changes in habitat suitability due to climate change, and agricultural intensification resulting in increased use of agrochemicals, likely adversely impact this species (Freitas et al. 2009, Vides-Borrel et al. 2019, Martínez-López et al. 2021). 

Deforestation due to logging, firewood gathering, charcoal production, clearing for cattle pasture and agricultural expansion is a major threat to Neotropical ecosystems (Freitas et al. 2009). Removal of native vegetation is thought to adversely impact bee abundance and diversity due to the loss or change of floral resources and nesting sites (Kremen et al. 2004­). In addition, bees that nest above ground, like this species, are typically more sensitive to the impacts of agricultural intensification because nesting substrates utilized by above ground nesters, including perennial grasses, forbs, shrub stems, and deadwood, are often removed from agricultural landscapes (Williams et al. 2010).

Land cover data, from 2015, within the range of this species shows some degree of urbanization and agriculture, especially around the population centres of San Jose and Cartago and a deforestation rate of  2.6%, from 2008 to 2018, has been estimated (ESA Climate Change Initiative and UCLouvain 2022, Global Forest Watch 2014).

While the scope and magnitude of these threats are uncertain, continuing decline in the quality and availability of habitat is inferred. More research is necessary to determine the impacts of these threats on this species. 

This species is not known to be utilized.

There are no known conservation actions in place for this species and it is unclear if it is found in any protected areas. Research on distribution, population size and trend, habitats and ecology, and threats is needed to better understand this species. For the conservation of bee species generally, the protection and restoration of native flora is recommended. Specific measures for safeguarding or improving habitat include agricultural practices, that preserve bee nesting sites in the ground, controlled fire management practices, and decreased use of insecticides (Ayala et al. 1996). The encouragement of initiatives for the conservation, creation, and restoration of potential habitats and floral resources, such as rural gardens and field margins, is also recommended. This will not only benefit this species, but all pollinators and floral visitors.