Arunachal Pradesh records rare Himalayan bee for first time in India

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recorded the rare solitary Himalayan bee, Colletes bhutanicus, in India for the first time. The discovery was made in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Researchers found the bee at elevations between 1,500 and 3,800 metres. The species was observed visiting 25 different types of flowering plants, including eggplant, chilli, beans, coriander, buckwheat, and mustard. Unlike honeybees, Colletes bees are solitary insects that nest separately rather than in large colonies, playing a vital role in pollination.

Previously, the species had been documented in Bhutan and parts of China, including the Xizang region. This new finding provides additional insight into the pollinator diversity of the eastern Himalayas and underscores the importance of conducting biodiversity surveys in the remote, high-altitude regions of Arunachal Pradesh.