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Stingless Bees of Vidarbha: New Species and Conservation Efforts

Stingless Bees of Vidarbha: New Species and Conservation Efforts
Stingless Bees of Vidarbha: New Species and Conservation Efforts

Stingless bees are emerging as significant pollinators and honey producers across Maharashtra. These tiny insects, despite their modest size and absence of functional stingers, play a crucial role in agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.


Recent scientific discoveries and ongoing conservation programmes have positioned Vidarbha as an important region for stingless bee research and meliponiculture development in India.


The region has become a focal point for researchers investigating these remarkable insects. Scientists are documenting new species, studying their ecological roles and exploring their potential for sustainable agriculture.


At the same time, training institutes and conservation organisations are working to protect wild colonies and promote beekeeping practices that support both farmer livelihoods and ecosystem health.


Understanding the diversity of these bees and the efforts to safeguard them provides insight into a largely overlooked aspect of agricultural biodiversity in central India.


Discovery of Tetragonula ashishi in Nagpur


In 2022, researchers Shashidhar Viraktamath and Jagruti Roy described a new stingless bee species from Nagpur in the Vidarbha region.


The species, named Tetragonula ashishi, represents one of five new Tetragonula species discovered across different parts of India.

The male holotype specimen was collected in Nagpur on 26 September 2019 by researcher Ashish Kumar J. The discovery elevated the total number of stingless bee species in India to 22, with the genus Tetragonula now comprising 17 species across the country.


Tetragonula ashishi displays distinct physical characteristics that differentiate it from other closely related species. Male bees measure approximately 4.19 millimetres in body length with a head width of 1.51 millimetres, while females are slightly smaller at 3.74 millimetres in length with a 1.52 millimetre head width. The body is predominantly black and shiny, with the mesoscutum displaying distinct longitudinal bands of white hairs.


The species exhibits dense white plumose hairs on the clypeus, lower face areas, and various parts of the thorax. The mandibles show a two-toned colouration, being dark brown to black at the basal half and light brown at the apical half.


The discovery involved detailed morphological and morphometric analysis. Researchers examined 34 different physical parameters and calculated ten ratios of various body parts to characterise the species accurately.


The male genitalia, particularly the structure of the gonostylus and penis valve, provided critical distinguishing features. The gonostylus in Tetragonula ashishi is lamellate and measures 0.83 millimetres in length, featuring an outwardly curved finger-like structure. The penis valve, described as very robust, measures 0.60 millimetres long and terminates in an outwardly curved hook.


The identification of Tetragonula ashishi from Vidarbha underscores the region's biodiversity value.


Maharashtra, particularly areas around Nagpur, provides suitable habitat conditions for these bees.

The holotype and paratype specimens are now deposited at the Department of Entomology at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru, serving as reference material for future taxonomic studies and species identification efforts.


Tetragonula iridipennis Across Maharashtra


Tetragonula iridipennis, commonly known as the Indian stingless bee or dammar bee, represents the most abundant and widely distributed stingless bee species across India.


This species occurs throughout Maharashtra, including the Vidarbha region, where it inhabits both natural and human-modified landscapes.

First described by Frederick Smith in 1854 from specimens collected in Sri Lanka, the species has since been documented extensively across the Indian subcontinent.


The bee exhibits distinctive physical features that aid in identification. Workers measure approximately 3.5 to 4.0 millimetres in body length with a dark mesoscutum featuring four distinct hair bands separated by broad glabrous areas.


The mandibles are chestnut brown without black apical areas, distinguishing the species from closely related taxa.


The species constructs nests in various substrates, including tree cavities, wall crevices, electrical meter boards and other sheltered locations.


Research conducted between 2021 and 2023 by scientists at the ICAR Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research in Pune documented the presence and distribution of Tetragonula iridipennis across major onion cultivation areas in Maharashtra.


The survey identified 186 occurrence points for the species across the state. Using maximum entropy modelling, researchers predicted that approximately 47.37 per cent of India's landmass provides suitable habitat for the species, with high suitability areas concentrated in western coastal regions, including Maharashtra.


Studies have demonstrated the pollination efficiency of Tetragonula iridipennis in multiple crop systems. Field experiments in Maharashtra showed that the species effectively pollinates onion crops, with pollinated plants producing significantly higher seed yields compared to unpollinated controls.


In onion seed production trials, fields with stingless bee colonies yielded 150 kilogrammes of seeds per acre compared to 110 kilogrammes in fields without bees, representing a 36 per cent increase. The germination rate of seeds from bee-pollinated plants reached 86 per cent compared to 74 per cent from unpollinated plants.


Beyond onion cultivation, Tetragonula iridipennis has shown effectiveness in pollinating various other crops across Vidarbha and surrounding regions.


Research in the Gondia district of Maharashtra examined the species' role in enhancing yields of oilseed crops.

Controlled pollination experiments demonstrated that stingless bee pollination significantly improved pod and seed set, seed weight and oil content in crops including sunflower, mustard, sesame and groundnut.


The findings highlight the potential for integrating stingless bees into diversified farming systems across the region.


Nesting Ecology and Habitat Preferences in Vidarbha


Surveys across Vidarbha have revealed diverse nesting patterns and site preferences for stingless bee populations.


Studies in Nagpur and Wardha districts between 2017 and 2018 documented 92 plant species serving as bee flora, providing essential nectar and pollen resources.


These included 35 horticultural crops, 15 agricultural crops, 12 ornamental plants and 30 wild plant species. The availability of diverse floral resources throughout the year supports stable stingless bee populations in agricultural landscapes.


Stingless bees in the region show marked preference for certain nesting substrates.

Research in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, though geographically distinct from Vidarbha, provides relevant insights into nesting patterns applicable across the state. Out of 50 colonies surveyed, 47 used terrestrial shelters such as wall cavities and electrical poles, while only three used arboreal shelters in tree trunks.


Electrical poles emerged as particularly favoured nesting sites, followed by stone walls. The preference for human-made structures suggests successful adaptation to urbanising landscapes.


Nest entrance characteristics vary but show certain consistent patterns. Approximately 44 per cent of observed colonies constructed circular entrance openings, 38 per cent built elliptical entrances and 18 per cent created irregular-shaped entrances.


The entrance tubes, constructed from a mixture of resin, wax and plant materials, serve as defensive structures.


Bees deposit sticky resin droplets around the entrance to deter predators, particularly ants. The resin acts as both a mechanical and chemical barrier, with terpenoid compounds repelling many potential invaders.


The height of nests from ground level and the orientation of nest entrances also follow observable patterns.


Bees typically establish colonies at heights that balance accessibility to foraging resources with protection from ground-based predators and flooding.


The nest entrance orientation appears influenced by microclimate factors, with many colonies positioning entrances to avoid direct exposure to harsh afternoon sun or prevailing winds during monsoon periods.


Conservation Initiatives and Training Programmes

Stingless Honey Bee
Stingless Honey Bee

The Central Bee Research and Training Institute in Pune, established in 1962, serves as the primary research and training centre for beekeeping in Maharashtra.


The institute has recently expanded its focus to include comprehensive studies of stingless bees across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and northeastern regions. Researchers from CBRTI undertake field surveys to identify species, document nesting behaviour, and analyse morphometric characteristics.


These efforts contribute to developing standardised protocols for stingless bee rearing and management.

In May and June 2022, CBRTI organised workshops specifically focused on stingless bee management. A two-day training programme conducted on 30 and 31 May attracted 32 participants comprising farmers, students and beekeeping enthusiasts from multiple districts, including Kolhapur, Satara, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Parbhani and Beed.


The training covered practical aspects, including identification of natural colonies, techniques for colony multiplication, and selection of suitable plant species to support stingless bee populations. Participants learned methods for hiving natural colonies, understanding the bees' low-maintenance requirements and recognising the medicinal properties of stingless bee honey.


The Khadi and Village Industries Commission, working in collaboration with CBRTI, has initiated projects to popularise stingless beekeeping across Maharashtra.


These programmes aim to create awareness among farmers about the benefits of meliponiculture as a sustainable income source. Unlike conventional beekeeping with Apis species, stingless bees do not sting, making them safer and easier to handle, particularly in urban and semi-urban settings. The bees can be maintained in small spaces and require minimal intervention, making them suitable for small-scale farmers and households with limited land resources.


Training programmes emphasise both the economic and ecological benefits of maintaining stingless bee colonies. Participants learn that while honey production from stingless bees is lower compared to Apis species, typically yielding 200 to 500 grams per colony per season, the honey commands premium prices.


Stingless bee honey sells for 1,000 to 3,500 rupees per kilogramme compared to 400 rupees per kilogramme for conventional honey.

The higher price reflects the honey's perceived medicinal properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities documented in scientific studies.


Beyond direct honey production, training programmes highlight the value of stingless bees as pollination service providers. Farmers learn to place bee colonies in fields during flowering periods to enhance crop yields. Studies demonstrate that pollination services can generate returns of 1,000 to 1,500 rupees per month per colony when rented to farmers during critical flowering periods. This model provides additional income streams for beekeepers while improving agricultural productivity.


Conservation efforts in Maharashtra extend beyond training and research to include direct protection of wild bee colonies. Since 2016, bee conservation initiatives have focused on rescuing and relocating bee colonies threatened by urban development and pest control operations. In Pune and surrounding areas, teams have successfully relocated thousands of beehives, including stingless bee colonies, from buildings and construction sites to farms and protected areas.


The relocation process for stingless bees differs from procedures used for Apis species. When relocating Tetragonula iridipennis colonies, practitioners carefully extract the brood chamber containing eggs and larvae along with the queen bee. The chamber is placed in a specially designed box and left for two days.


Worker bees, following their instinct to protect the next generation and remain with their queen, enter the box voluntarily. This method ensures the entire colony is relocated without leaving individuals behind.


Relocated colonies require suitable destination sites with adequate floral resources and appropriate nesting locations. Conservationists work with farmers and landowners to identify areas with diverse flowering plants and secure cavities for nest establishment.


Proper placement considers factors such as protection from direct sunlight, adequate ventilation and distance from high-traffic areas. Successful relocations contribute to maintaining the genetic diversity of wild stingless bee populations while preventing colony destruction.


Public awareness campaigns accompany rescue and relocation efforts. Educational programmes conducted in schools, colleges, corporate offices and housing societies aim to change perceptions about bees.


Many people unnecessarily fear bees and resort to pest control services that kill entire colonies.

Awareness sessions explain the ecological importance of bees, their role in pollination and the minimal threat posed by stingless species. These efforts have trained over 1,500 individuals across Maharashtra, creating a network of informed citizens who can respond appropriately when encountering bee colonies.


Research on Pollination Efficiency and Crop Productivity


Detailed studies on the pollination efficiency of stingless bees in Vidarbha and surrounding regions have quantified their agricultural value. Research conducted in Gondia district examined stingless bee-assisted pollination across 12 cultivated and five non-cultivated oilseed species.


The study, spanning multiple growing seasons, documented phenological patterns and pollination ecology. Researchers found that stingless bee pollination significantly enhanced both the quantity and quality of seeds produced across major oilseed crops.

In controlled experiments comparing different pollination treatments, stingless bee pollination consistently outperformed open pollination and self-pollination.


For sunflower crops, fields with managed stingless bee colonies showed marked improvements in seed set percentages, average seed weight and oil content. Similar patterns emerged for mustard, sesame and groundnut crops. The improvements resulted from more thorough pollen transfer and higher visitation rates during peak flowering periods.


Foraging behaviour studies reveal patterns that explain the high pollination efficiency. Stingless bees display strong floral fidelity, repeatedly visiting the same plant species during individual foraging trips. This behaviour increases the likelihood of effective pollen transfer within species.


Peak foraging activity typically occurs between 1000 and 1400 hours, coinciding with periods of maximum nectar availability and optimal weather conditions. Bees collect both nectar and pollen, with peak pollen foraging observed between 1100 and 1200 hours.


The limited foraging range of stingless bees, typically 50 to 100 metres from the nest, makes them particularly suitable for enclosed or semi-enclosed cultivation systems. Studies demonstrate successful use in polyhouses and net houses where honeybees often struggle due to spatial constraints.


In chilli cultivation experiments in Nagaland, though not in Vidarbha, stingless bee pollination increased crop production and quality compared to unpollinated controls. The findings suggest similar applications could benefit protected cultivation systems in Maharashtra.


Weather factors significantly influence foraging activity patterns. Temperature, relative humidity and wind speed all affect the number of foraging trips and time spent at flowers.


Optimal foraging occurs at temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius with relative humidity between 60 and 80 per cent.

Understanding these patterns helps farmers optimise colony placement timing to maximise pollination benefits. Research continues to refine recommendations for colony density per unit area, ideal placement locations and management practices during different crop flowering periods.


Medicinal Properties and Market Value


Stingless bee honey possesses distinct characteristics that differentiate it from honey produced by Apis species.


The honey has a higher moisture content, typically between 20 and 30 per cent, compared to 18 to 20 per cent in Apis honey.


This higher moisture content contributes to a thinner consistency and slower crystallisation.

The flavour profile varies depending on the floral sources visited by the bees, ranging from sweet to slightly sour notes. Colour varies from light amber to dark brown, again influenced by the predominant nectar sources in the foraging area.


Scientific investigations have documented numerous bioactive properties in stingless bee honey. Laboratory studies demonstrate antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including pathogenic strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella species.


The antimicrobial properties derive from multiple factors, including hydrogen peroxide production, low pH, high osmotic pressure and the presence of phenolic compounds. These properties support traditional uses of stingless bee honey in wound healing and treating infections.


Antioxidant activity represents another significant property. Honey from stingless bees contains various phenolic compounds, flavonoids and other antioxidant molecules. These compounds help neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.


The antioxidant capacity varies among different stingless bee species and depends heavily on the botanical origin of the nectar. Honey from bees foraging on medicinal plants typically shows enhanced antioxidant properties.


Research has also identified anti-inflammatory properties in stingless bee honey. Studies using cell culture and animal models demonstrate that honey components can modulate inflammatory responses by affecting cytokine production and inflammatory signalling pathways. These properties support traditional applications for treating inflammatory conditions and suggest potential therapeutic uses in chronic inflammatory diseases.


The combination of these bioactive properties contributes to the high market value of stingless bee honey. In Maharashtra, prices range from 2,000 to 3,500 rupees per kilogramme for authenticated stingless bee honey, substantially higher than conventional honey. However, production remains limited due to small colony sizes and lower per-colony yields.


A single stingless bee colony produces only 200 to 500 grams of honey annually compared to 15 to 50 kilograms from Apis mellifera colonies. This scarcity, combined with the perceived health benefits, sustains premium pricing.

Despite growing interest in stingless bee conservation and meliponiculture, several challenges persist. Identification of species remains difficult due to morphological similarities among closely related taxa. Many colonies in the wild may belong to undescribed species or species whose distributions have not been fully mapped.


The description of Tetragonula ashishi from Nagpur highlights how much remains unknown about stingless bee diversity in Vidarbha and across India. Further taxonomic studies incorporating molecular techniques alongside traditional morphological approaches are needed.


Habitat loss poses a significant threat to wild stingless bee populations. Urbanisation, agricultural intensification and deforestation reduce the availability of suitable nesting sites and floral resources. In rural areas, the widespread use of pesticides affects bee health and colony survival. Neonicotinoid insecticides and other systemic pesticides that persist in plant tissues pose particular risks. Creating and maintaining pesticide-free corridors and promoting organic farming practices can help mitigate these threats.


Limited availability of quality training and extension services restricts the expansion of meliponiculture. While organisations like CBRTI provide training, the reach remains limited compared to the potential number of interested farmers and entrepreneurs.


Developing standardised training curricula, creating demonstration units in different agro-climatic zones and leveraging digital platforms for knowledge dissemination could expand access to technical information. Establishing networks of trained beekeepers who can mentor newcomers would strengthen the sector.


The lack of standardised quality parameters and certification systems for stingless bee honey presents another challenge. Without established standards, consumers cannot easily verify product authenticity and quality.


This situation creates opportunities for adulteration and mislabelling, potentially undermining consumer confidence and market development. Developing and implementing quality standards, testing protocols, and certification systems would benefit both producers and consumers. Such frameworks would need to consider the natural variation in stingless bee honey properties based on species and floral sources.


Future research directions include investigating the potential for using stingless bees in integrated pest management systems. Some stingless bee species collect plant resins with antimicrobial properties, potentially affecting crop disease dynamics.


Understanding these interactions could lead to novel approaches for disease management. Additionally, studies on the nutritional requirements of stingless bees and the development of supplemental feeding strategies could improve colony health and productivity, particularly during dearth periods.


Climate change presents both challenges and opportunities for stingless bee populations in Vidarbha. Predictive models suggest that suitable habitat for Tetragonula iridipennis may expand under certain climate change scenarios, potentially increasing its distribution in parts of Maharashtra.


However, shifts in flowering phenology, changes in rainfall patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events could disrupt bee-plant interactions. Long-term monitoring programmes are needed to track population trends and assess climate change impacts.


The integration of stingless bees into sustainable agriculture systems in Vidarbha represents an opportunity for enhancing both agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.


Farmers adopting meliponiculture practices benefit from additional income through honey sales and pollination services while contributing to ecosystem health.

Scaling up these practices requires coordinated efforts among research institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and farmer groups. Policy support, including subsidies for establishing colonies and protecting natural habitats, would accelerate adoption.


References




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