The Himalayan honeybee, also known as the giant honeybee, is the world's largest honeybee species. They are found in the Himalayan region, including Nepal, India, and Bhutan. The species is known for its distinctive behavior of nesting on cliffs, high up in the mountains.
Himalayan honeybees are social insects that form large colonies consisting of tens of thousands of individual bees. They are important pollinators and also produce honey that is highly prized for its medicinal properties. However, harvesting honey from Himalayan honeybees is a dangerous task, as the bees are known to be highly defensive of their colonies and can attack en masse in response to perceived threats.
The bees also play an important role in local culture and spirituality in the Himalayan region. They are believed to be sacred and are often featured in religious ceremonies and festivals. In Nepal, the harvesting of honey from Himalayan honeybees is part of the traditional practice of honey hunting, which has been practiced for centuries by the indigenous Gurung and Magar communities in the country's central and western regions.