Rare Himalayan bee found in Arunachal could transform mountain farming

Guwahati: A little-known Himalayan bee discovered in Arunachal Pradesh could become an unlikely ally for mountain farmers, with scientists identifying it as a promising native pollinator capable of boosting crop production in the fragile ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas.

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recorded Colletes bhutanicus, a solitary Himalayan plasterer bee, in India for the first time and found that it thrives across a wide range of habitats while pollinating both crops and wild flowering plants.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, are based on a study by Dibyajyoti Ghosh, K.A. Subramanian and Dhriti Banerjee of the Zoological Survey of India.

The discovery comes at a time when scientists worldwide are searching for resilient native pollinators as honey bee populations decline because of climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use.

From rare bee to agricultural ally

First described from Bhutan in 2003 and later reported from China, Colletes bhutanicus had never before been documented in India.

However, extensive field surveys conducted between 2019 and 2022 in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district revealed that the species is not only present but also surprisingly abundant across elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,800 metres.

The researchers collected specimens from multiple locations in Tawang and confirmed the species’ identity through detailed taxonomic analysis.

Far from being a rare visitor, the bee emerged as one of the most commonly encountered solitary bee species during the surveys.

A bee with a broad diet

The study found the bee visiting 25 flowering plant species belonging to 10 botanical families, including economically important crops such as mustard, buckwheat, coriander, beans, chilli and eggplant.

Nearly 28% of its floral visits were to cultivated crops, while the remaining 72% were to wild flowering plants, underscoring the importance of conserving natural forests alongside agricultural landscapes.

Unlike managed honey bees, which often struggle in the rugged terrain and harsh climatic conditions of the Himalayas, the native bee remains active from May to November, is naturally adapted to mountain environments and requires no hive management.

The researchers believe these characteristics make it a potentially effective and climate-resilient pollinator for Himalayan farming systems.

‘Silent workforce of our ecosystems’

Lead author Dr Dibyajyoti Ghosh said the study highlights the importance of India’s largely unexplored native pollinators.

“Pollinators are the silent workforce of our ecosystems. Every third bite of food we consume depends, directly or indirectly, on their pollination services. By documenting the ecology of Colletes bhutanicus, we are not only rediscovering a little-known Himalayan bee but also highlighting the immense value of India’s native pollinators, many of which remain scientifically unexplored,” he said.

Arunachal’s biodiversity in focus

Co-author Dr K.A. Subramanian said the discovery once again demonstrates Arunachal Pradesh’s global ecological significance.

“Arunachal Pradesh is one of India’s greatest natural laboratories. Its extraordinary altitudinal gradients, diverse habitats and relatively undisturbed ecosystems continue to reveal species and ecological interactions that remain unknown to science. Protecting this biodiversity hotspot is essential for both national and global conservation efforts,” he said.

ZSI Director and co-author Dr Dhriti Banerjee said discoveries such as this underscore the need for greater investment in biodiversity research.

“The Indian Eastern Himalayas remain one of the world’s richest yet least explored biodiversity frontiers. Every scientific discovery from this region reinforces the urgent need to conserve its unique ecosystems while investing in research that can transform biodiversity into sustainable solutions for agriculture, climate resilience and human well-being,” she said.

More than a new species record

Beyond representing the first Indian record of Colletes bhutanicus, the discovery further strengthens Arunachal Pradesh’s reputation as one of the country’s richest biodiversity hotspots.

The researchers said further studies on the bee’s pollination efficiency, nesting behaviour, breeding ecology, pesticide sensitivity and artificial nesting systems are needed before it can be integrated into managed pollination programmes.

However, they believe the species has the potential to become a home-grown pollination solution for the Indian Himalayas, helping farmers reduce their dependence on managed honey bees at a time of increasing climate uncertainty.

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