Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Rare Himalayan Bee Colletes bhutanicus Recorded First Time in India
Scientists in India found a very special bee that had never been seen in the country before.
The bee is called Colletes bhutanicus.
It is a gentle pollinator that moves from flower to flower to collect nectar and pollen.
Unlike honeybees, this bee lives alone and does not make big hives.
The scientists found it in Tawang, a mountain district in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Before this, the bee had only been seen in Bhutan and China.
It was found high in the mountains, between 1,500 and 3,800 metres above sea level.
The bee visited 25 kinds of flowers, including mustard, buckwheat, coriander, beans, chilli and eggplant.
Bees help plants make fruits and seeds, so they are very important for farming.
This is why finding a rare new bee is exciting for scientists and farmers.
The rare solitary Himalayan bee Colletes bhutanicus was recorded for the first time in India from Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) — Dibyajyoti Ghosh, K A Subramanian and Dhriti Banerjee — recorded the species during a recent survey.
The species had previously been documented only in Bhutan and China, including the Xizang region.
The bee was found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,800 metres and was observed visiting 25 species of flowering plants.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein called the discovery a matter of pride for Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the role of native pollinators in mountain agriculture.
- Who
- Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) — Dibyajyoti Ghosh, K A Subramanian and Dhriti Banerjee.
- What
- The rare solitary Himalayan bee Colletes bhutanicus was recorded for the first time in India.
- When
- The exact date is not specified; the record was made during a recent survey in Tawang.
- Where
- Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India; the species was previously known from Bhutan and China, including the Xizang region.
- Why
- To document bee diversity; the finding adds to the understanding of the distribution and diversity of Himalayan pollinators.
- Species
- Colletes bhutanicus
- Record location
- Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India
- First record in India
- Yes
- Previously recorded in
- Bhutan and China (including Xizang region)
- Elevation range
- 1,500 metres to 3,800 metres
- Flowering plants visited
- 25 species, including mustard, buckwheat, coriander, beans, chilli and eggplant
- Recording institution
- Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
- Reaction
- Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein called it a matter of pride for Arunachal Pradesh