Nine solitary bee species discovered in Kerala for the first time

In a remarkable addition to Kerala’s biodiversity records, researchers from the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab at Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, have identified nine species of solitary bees from the subfamily Nomiinae (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) – all documented for the first time in Kerala.

Unlike the social honeybees that live in bustling colonies and produce honey, solitary bees live independently, with each female building and provisioning her own nest. While they may not yield honey, their ecological contribution is immense.

“Solitary bees are vital pollinators. They play an equally important role as honeybees in sustaining ecosystems and boosting agricultural productivity,” explained Dr. Bijoy C., Assistant Professor and Head of the Lab.

The newly recorded species include Austronomia capitata, Austronomia goniognatha, Austronomia ustula, Gnathonomia argenteobalteata, Hoplonomia incerta, Lipotriches torrida, Lipotriches exagens, Lipotriches minutula, and Lipotriches pulchriventris. Among them, Lipotriches torrida has been found for the first time outside its type locality, and Gnathonomia argenteobalteata marks a rare rediscovery — over a century after its last recorded sighting in India. “These findings put Kerala on the global map for Nomiinae diversity,” said Dr. Bijoy.

Published in the Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics (Vol. 11, Issue 3, 2025), the study reveals that Kerala now harbours 42 species of Nomiinae — representing 50.6% of India’s and 87.7% of South India’s known fauna in this subfamily. These bees, which nest in the ground, also help improve soil aeration, moisture retention, and fertility through their nesting activities.

The research team included doctoral students Athul Sankar C., Vishnu A. V., and Anju Sara Prakash, from Christ College alongside Dr. Bijoy and Dr. Shaji E. M., Professor and Head of the Zoology Department, K. K. T. M. Govt. College, Pullut. The project was funded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Government of India.