Distributional Pattern and Food Plants of Western Himalayan Bumble Bees from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

A new distributional record of nine bumble bee species (Bombus) from the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in the Western Himalayas, including eight first-time observations for the region, reveals a rich diversity of these pollinators. The study documents their presence across elevations ranging from 2500 to 3500 meters above sea level, with Bombus tunicatus emerging as the most prominent species in terms of male abundance. Additionally, previously unrecorded food plant associations for these bees were identified, contributing novel ecological insights. This research enhances our understanding of bumble bee distribution and host-plant relationships in this globally significant UNESCO site.

Raina, R. H., Jangid, T., Choudhary, P., & Sharma, I. (2023). Distributional Pattern and Food Plants of Western Himalayan Bumble Bees from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Indian Journal of Entomology, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.55446/ije.2023.1448