India home to 48 species of bumblebees

They are one of the most economically important insects.

May 04, 2015 01:19 am | Updated November 17, 2021 02:30 am IST - Kolkata

India is home to 48 of the 250 known species of bumblebees, the only pollinators of vegetation in high-altitude regions. Photo: Special Arrangement

India is home to 48 of the 250 known species of bumblebees, the only pollinators of vegetation in high-altitude regions. Photo: Special Arrangement

India is home to 48 of the 250 known species of bumblebees, the only pollinators of vegetation in high-altitude regions.

This has been revealed in a recent publication Indian Bumblebees written by entomologist M.S. Saini and co-authors Rifat H. Raina and Harpeet Singh Ghator. The book was launched in Kolkata at the beginning of the centenary celebration of the Zoological Survey of India.

Mostly characterised by black, yellow and reddish body hair, and often striped, bumblebees are generally found on altitudes of 2,000-15,000 feet along the entire Himalayas, from Jammu & Kashmir to Nagaland.

Crucial role “The publication which enlists all 48 species found in India is the result of 16 years of hard work. Bumblebees are important to the ecosystem, as without them seed setting and fruiting will not take place in many plants. They pollinate vegetables, fruit trees, cash crops and even ornamental and medicinal plants high in the Himalayas,” Mr. Saini told The Hindu over telephone from Punjab.

Social insects Like the honeybees, bumblebees are social insects and live in colonies — the size of which depends on the species.

“The founder of the colony is the queen that hibernates throughout winter. In spring, she finds a site for new nest. Having mated the previous autumn, she then lays her eggs which will result in the first batch of workers,” Mr. Saini said, explaining the life cycle of the bumblebees.

Top News Today

Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.