Guwahati: Scientists have discovered two new species of rare solitary bees in Arunachal Pradesh, a finding that not only adds to India’s growing biodiversity inventory but also underscores the urgent need to document and protect the Eastern Himalaya’s rapidly disappearing natural habitats.
The newly identified species—Elaphropoda triangulata, named after the distinctive triangular markings on its abdomen, and Habropoda adi, named in honour of the Adi indigenous community—were discovered by researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, during the Siang Expedition. The findings have been published in the European Journal of Taxonomy.
The discovery is significant because both species belong to bee genera that are among the rarest known to science. The genus Elaphropoda comprises just 13 known species worldwide, while Habropoda has only 55 species globally. Scientists say these bees are rarely encountered and often escape detection because of their restricted distribution and elusive nature.
Adding to their rarity, each of the two newly described species is known from just a single male specimen collected in Arunachal Pradesh.
The researchers said they chose to formally describe the species without waiting for additional specimens because rapid infrastructure development, road expansion and changing land use in the region could threaten their habitats before further surveys are completed.
The two bees belong to the Anthophorinae subfamily of ground-nesting solitary bees, a group of wild pollinators that plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystems and supporting agricultural productivity. Unlike honeybees, solitary bees do not live in colonies but are increasingly recognised worldwide for their importance in pollination.
Lead author Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny, currently pursuing a PhD at University College London, said the discovery underscores how little is still known about India’s bee diversity.
“These bees are rare and seldom collected, which is part of why they have remained undescribed for so long. Their discovery is a reminder of how little we still know about bee diversity in India, and in Arunachal Pradesh in particular,” he said.
Senior author Dr Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan said the findings take on added urgency as Arunachal Pradesh witnesses rapid infrastructure development, including road construction and proposed hydropower projects.
“The discovery of these two species strengthens the case for prioritising taxonomic and ecological research before such habitats are altered,” he said.
The bees were collected during the Siang Expedition, a modern biodiversity survey inspired by the historic Abor Expedition of 1911-12, which first documented the natural history of the Siang Valley during the colonial era. Over the past few years, the expedition has led to the discovery of several new species of ants, wasps, beetles and bees from the Eastern Himalaya.
The research also suggests that northern Southeast Asia, stretching from India to southern China, is likely the evolutionary centre of this bee subfamily because of its exceptional diversity, further underlining the global importance of conserving the Eastern Himalaya.
The discovery comes as Arunachal Pradesh continues to emerge as one of India’s biodiversity hotspots. Of the 483 new species recorded from the country last year, 65 were from Arunachal Pradesh, reinforcing calls for greater investment in biodiversity research and habitat conservation across Northeast India.
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