India’s Northeast Buzzes With Discovery: 2 New Solitary Bee Species Found In Arunachal Pradesh

Last Updated:July 13, 2026, 16:57 IST

Of the 483 new species discovered in India last year, 65 were from Arunachal Pradesh, say researchers, highlighting the need to preserve the rich biodiversity of the North-east

Researchers have now discovered two new solitary bee species in Arunachal Pradesh, nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, one of the world’s most critical biodiversity hotspots.

Scientists highlight that of the 483 new species discovered in India last year, 65 were from Arunachal Pradesh alone. The recent discovery is significant because solitary bees are vital pollinators and have become a focus of research and conservation across the world in recent years.

The new species have been named Elaphropoda triangulata, after the triangle-shaped markings on its abdomen, and Habropoda adi, after the Adi indigenous community of Arunachal Pradesh, who inhabit the region where the bees were collected. The two species belong to the genera Elaphropoda and Habropoda, and the bee subfamily Anthophorinae, which consists largely of ground-nesting solitary bees, said the team at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, which made the discoveries.

“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," said Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny, who conducted the study with Dr Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan from ATREE, and is currently pursuing a PhD at University College London.

THE RICH BIODIVERSITY

The latest discoveries also throw light on the need to preserve the sensitive ecosystem of the region, home to a multitude of species that still remain unexplored in the Eastern Himalayas. “Arunachal Pradesh is currently undergoing rapid infrastructural development, including construction and a recently announced hydropower project, raising concerns about habitat disturbance in areas that have not yet been comprehensively surveyed," said Dr Priyadarsanan from ATREE, Bengaluru. The current project has already discovered several new species of ants, wasps, beetles, and bees so far.

The team at ATREE, along with Felis Creations, collected these specimens during the Siang Expedition in 2023 – an attempt to re-survey and document this biodiversity of the Siang Valley, which was last explored by the Britishers. In 1911-12, the British rule had carried out a historic expedition – ‘Abhor expedition’ as a punitive military exercise against the indigenous people. It also included some scientists who documented its natural history and geography, and later published their discoveries in the Records of the Indian Museum from 1912 to 1922.

About the Author

Srishti Choudhary

Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive g...Read More

News india India’s Northeast Buzzes With Discovery: 2 New Solitary Bee Species Found In Arunachal Pradesh

Read More