A species of potter wasp, Antepipona bhutanensis, has been recorded in India for the first time during a biodiversity survey in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The species was previously known only from Bhutan. Its documentation in Tawang marks its first confirmed presence in India and indicates faunal connections across the eastern Himalayan region.

The finding is part of a broader study in which researchers catalogued 19 species of vespid wasps from the district. Surveys were conducted across Jang, Lumla, and Panchen subdivisions during 2019, 2021, and 2022. Fieldwork in 2020 was not carried out due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Researchers used methods such as sweep netting, pan trapping, and direct observation across different habitats, including subtropical forests, alpine meadows, riverbanks, and modified landscapes.

According to the study, Antepipona bhutanensis is a solitary wasp species typically found in warmer, lower-altitude areas. The record adds to existing data on insect diversity in the eastern Himalayas and contributes to ongoing efforts to document the region’s biodiversity.