India, June 22 -- Incredible India houses a dazzling richness of bee diversity. Of the 20,925 species recognised globally, India hosts 755. Further, of the nine traditional honey bee species of the world, India is home to four of them. Many of the world's prominent land masses such as North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia have only one honey bee species, ie, the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera).

These hard-working insects play a foundational role in pollination while only some of the bee species yield nature's incredible amrit or nectar in the guise of honey. Despite India sporting such a bounty of bees, these insects are under increasing threat from varied quarters.

The largely unknown diversitie...