ZSI Survey Maps Wild Bee Populations in Tawang High Altitudes

Itanagar: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India have confirmed a rich diversity of wild bees living in the high-altitude reaches of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. A team from the Jodhpur-based Desert Regional Centre conducted the study between September 15 and October 7. They worked under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies. The survey spanned elevations from 2,000 to 4,700 metres. Researchers visited rugged sites including Sela Pass, Bumla Pass, Nagula, Sangetsar Tso, Chumi Gyatse Falls, and Jang. Some sites sit right on the India-China border.

Research Associate Purnima Pathak led the fieldwork, with help from Project Assistant Habung Elsa. They identified bees from four families: Apidae, Megachilidae, Andrenidae, and Halictidae. Bumblebees drew particular attention. The insects rely on local alpine flowers for survival. Primary food sources include Cirsium species, Cicerbita alpina, and the Rose Carpet Knotweed, locally called Petma Mento. Bees were seen feeding on these plants regularly.

The study found that bees use farm fields, kitchen gardens, and flowers near human homes to supplement their diet. This diversity is vital because the Tawang flowering season is short. Any shift in climate or vegetation could threaten these pollinators. The team warned that habitat loss puts these species at risk. "Conservation efforts should therefore protect not only the bees but also the flowering habitats that sustain them," the researchers noted. This data serves as a baseline for future mapping and conservation across the Eastern Himalayas.