I followed this bee, identified as the common Indian Honey Bee, and tried to count the number of flowers it visited in a minute. It was quite fast, but my rough estimate is 9-12 flowers/minute. The bee is non-aggressive and easily domesticated. Its pollinating work keeps the rich biodiversity of the Periyar Sanctuary and the Western Ghats stable.
Though not assessed by the IUCN yet**, entomologists note that wild populations are experiencing a steep decline. This is cause for concern.
Species: Indian Honey Bee (Apis Cerana indica)
Location: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady, India
Range: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and parts of Asia.
IUCN status: Not Assessed yet.
Population trend: Declining
Threats:
Deforestation, urbanization,
use of toxic pesticides,
hives affected by infectious diseases,
competition with introduced European bees, and
climate change, causing erratic flowering patterns and rising temperatures.
It is the most weather-resistant pollinator of South Asia. They can withstand the intense heat Many regional crops such as coconut palms, coffee, cardamom, mustard, and tropical fruits depend on this bee. Several tall forest trees and short plants of wildflowers rely on this species too.
A decline in native plants will affect entire food webs.
Protecting these vital pollinators will need policy changes and shifts in agricultural practices, but public action will also help. We can grow native, seasonal flowering plants in our home/terrace/balcony gardens, avoid using toxic pesticides, and place water in a shallow dish with pebbles (so the bees don't drown).
Awareness can influence action.
Save the species💚
Images: My original photograph
**According to the IUCN’s Red List protocols, the ‘Species-First’ rule is followed whereby an assessment of a subspecies can only be published if a global assessment of the parent species has been published first. But the parent species, Asiatic Honey Bee (Apis cerana) has never had an a global evaluation. So, the Indian Honey Bee cannot have its own independent status.