Rare Bhutan-China bee species found for first time in Arunachal

A rare solitary Himalayan bee, Colletes bhutanicus, has been recorded for the first time in India, from Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), officials said.

The species was recorded during a recent survey in Tawang by ZSI scientists Dibyajyoti Ghosh, K A Subramanian and Dhriti Banerjee, they said.

The bee had earlier been recorded from Bhutan and China, including the Xizang region. Its documentation in Arunachal Pradesh adds to the understanding of the distribution and diversity of Himalayan pollinators, they added.

According to researchers, the bee was found at elevations ranging from 1,500 metres to 3,800 metres and was observed visiting 25 species of flowering plants, including mustard, buckwheat, coriander, beans, chilli and eggplant.

Unlike honeybees, Colletes bees are solitary and do not live in large colonies. Individual bees generally nest separately and play an important role in pollination by moving between flowers to collect pollen and nectar.

The finding also provides fresh insights into the bee diversity of the eastern Himalayas, officials said.

Earlier taxonomic studies have documented C. bhutanicus from Bhutan and parts of China. A 2014 study published in Zootaxa listed the species among Colletes bees recorded from China. Scientific records from Xizang have also documented it at several high-altitude locations, including areas above 3,800 metres, indicating its adaptation to Himalayan environments.

Arunachal Pradesh, with its wide variations in altitude, climate and vegetation, is among India's important biodiversity regions. The latest record highlights the need for continued biodiversity surveys in the state's remote mountain areas, where several species remain poorly documented, officials said.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein described the discovery of the rare bee in Tawang as a matter of pride for Arunachal Pradesh, saying it highlighted the potential role of native pollinators in supporting mountain agriculture.