ZSI finds rare solitary Himalayan bee in Arunachal

Unlike honeybees, Colletes bees are solitary. Individual bees nest separately but serve as pollinators as they move between flowers collecting pollen and nectar.

A 2014 study in Zootaxa had listed C. bhutanicus among Colletes bees recorded from China. Scientific records from Xizang documented the species at sites above 3,800 metres, suggesting adaptation to high-altitude Himalayan environments.

Arunachal Pradesh's wide altitude range, climate variation and vegetation make it one of India's most biodiverse states. The discovery shows how much remains undocumented in its remote mountain areas, officials said.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein called the find a matter of pride for the state. The bee's role in pollination could support mountain farming, he said.