Indian Black Honey Bee - A New Species Discovered in Western Ghats | UPSC Notes

Introduction to the Indian Black Honey Bee

Image source: The Hindu

The Indian Black Honey Bee, belonging to the Apis genus, was discovered in 2022 in the Western Ghats region of India by a research team comprising researchers from the Kerala Agricultural University's Integrated Farming Systems Research Station, Karamana; the Zoology Department of SN College, Cherthala; and the EMEA College of Arts and Science, Malappuram. The scientific name of this newly discovered species is Apis karinjodian.

Interesting Facts About the Indian Black Honey Bee

• The last honey bee species discovered in India was Apis Indica, identified by Fabricus in 1798.
• Apis karinjodian is an evolved form of Apis cerana morphotypes that adapted to the hot and humid environment of the Western Ghats.
• The Indian Black Honey bee is distinguished by its dark appearance.
• The discovery of Apis karinjodian has revolutionized apiculture in India by introducing a third species of cavity nesting honey bees – Apis indica, Apis cerana, and the newly discovered Apis karinjodian.
• Apis karinjodian has the capability to produce large amounts of honey with a thicker consistency than other species.
• The propagation of this new species could boost the large-scale production of high-quality honey.
• With the discovery of Apis karinjodian, the number of honey bee species worldwide has increased to 11.

Habitat of the Indian Black Honey Bee

The habitat of Apis karinjodian spans from the Central Western Ghats and Nilgiris to the Southern Western Ghats, encompassing the states of Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, and parts of Tamil Nadu.

IUCN Red List Status

The IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature ) Red List Categories and Criteria has classified Apis karinjodian as Near Threatened (NT) in Kerala.

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