BANGKOK – Songkiat Tatayanont, Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), announced on 19 April the discovery of the Himalayan giant bee (ApislaboriosaSmith, 1871) in Thailand for the first time. The bees were found in Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park in Chiang Mai province.
The discovery was made by a team of researchers led by Mr. Isarapong Woraphab, an entomologist with the DNP, Nontawat Chatthanabun, Dr. Chawatat Thanoosing, and Asst.Prof. Dr. Natthapoj Warit from the Department of Biology at Chulalongkorn University. The researchers have been studying the Himalayan giant bee, which was previously only known to exist in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal and India.
The Himalayan giant bee was first found in 2022, but it was still in the analysis phase to obtain accurate information. This bee species is different from the common Asian honey bee (Apis dorsata Fabricius, 1793), which is found in all regions of Thailand. They build large, solitary nests. Characteristic features of the Himalayan honeybee include a shiny black abdomen and golden yellow hairs around the thorax.
The Himalayan giant bee is found in high-altitude areas, typically between 1,000 and 4,500 meters above sea level, and prefers cool temperatures (less than 25°C). The bee is an important pollinator of high-altitude plant communities.
The honey produced by the Himalayan giant bee is said to have unique physical and chemical properties that make it highly desirable in the market. However, more research is needed to confirm these properties in the Thai population of the bee.
The discovery of the Himalayan giant bee is an important finding for biodiversity conservation in Thailand. It highlights the country’s rich biodiversity and the need to protect its natural habitats. Despite the threats posed by habitat destruction and climate change, the Himalayan giant bee is still able to thrive in certain parts of Thailand.
The Himalayan giant bee is the fifth species of bee in the genus Apis to be found in Thailand. The other four species are the Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Apis andreniformis, and the Apis cerana.
“This discovery is an important indicator of the rich biodiversity and environmental resources available in Thailand,” said Songkiat Tatayanont. “Although these resources are threatened by habitat destruction and climate change, we have succeeded in finding the Himalayan giant bee in Thailand.”
____
