New bee species
Prelims:
Environment
& Ecology, Biodiversity
Mains:
GS
Paper III- Environment, Science & Technology
Current
relevance:
Researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the
Environment (ATREE) discovered two new species of solitary bees in Arunachal
Pradesh.
Highlights:
1. Researchers from Ashoka Trust for Research in
Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) discovered two new solitary bee
species in Arunachal Pradesh:
i.
Elaphropoda
triangulata – named
after the triangle-shaped abdominal markings.
ii.
Habropoda adi
– named in honour of the Adi
indigenous community.
About Solitary bee:
1. Both species are solitary bees that mainly
build their nests in the ground.
2. They are important pollinators, playing a
crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting agricultural productivity.
3. These bees do not live-in colonies like
honeybees.
4. Each female solitary bee builds, provisions, and
maintains its own nest independently.
5. They are non-aggressive and rarely sting.
About ATREE:
1. An environmental research organisation based
in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
2. Focuses on biodiversity conservation, climate change, sustainable development, and ecological research.
Source: THE HINDU -
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/atree-researchers-discover-two-new-bee-species-in-arunachal-pradesh/article71221452.ece