A recent study has shed light on the hidden world of bees in Arunachal Pradesh, revealing a remarkable and largely unexplored diversity of pollinators in the region. Led by researchers from Rajiv Gandhi University, the four-year study recorded 63 bee species across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and parts of Assam, highlighting the Eastern Himalaya as a potential hotspot for pollinator diversity. The research, published in the International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, represents one of the most comprehensive assessments of bee distribution in Northeast India.
The findings are significant, as the region sits at the crossroads of two global biodiversity hotspots – the Himalaya and Indo-Burma regions – yet remains one of the least-studied areas in the world for bee diversity. To fill this knowledge gap, researchers surveyed 286 transects between 2018 and 2021, covering habitats ranging from tropical lowlands to alpine landscapes. They collected and identified over 1,000 bees, including honey bees, bumble bees, stingless bees, carpenter bees, and solitary bees.
The study found that altitude was the single most important factor influencing bee distribution, with a sharp ecological divide at the 1,000-metre mark. Sites above 1,000 metres supported greater bee diversity and a more even distribution of species than lower-elevation habitats. The findings suggest that the Eastern Himalaya’s higher reaches may serve as important refuges for pollinators, particularly at a time when bee populations worldwide are facing increasing pressure from habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.
The study also revealed how different habitats support different pollinator communities, with alpine forests and meadows emerging as strongholds for bumble bees and several solitary bee species. The findings underscore the importance of habitat diversity in maintaining healthy pollinator populations. Not all species were widespread, with over one-third of the recorded bees found at only a single location, suggesting that many may occupy highly specialised ecological niches and could be vulnerable to environmental change.
The Asian honey bee emerged as the region’s most successful and widespread pollinator, recorded in 38 of the surveyed grid cells and having the highest population density among all species documented during the study. Perhaps the most intriguing finding is that scientists believe they have not yet discovered the full extent of the region’s bee diversity, with statistical models indicating that additional species are likely to be found with further surveys. The study’s authors noted that the unique altitude-based distribution patterns for different species and the wide variation in altitude may shape the rich diversity of bees in the region.
For scientists, the message is clear: the mountains of the Eastern Himalaya are not just scenic landscapes, but living reservoirs of pollinator diversity, and protecting them may be crucial for safeguarding some of Asia’s most important – and least understood – bee populations.
