From the archive record
A large open-air colony of Giant Honey Bees (Apis dorsata), also known as Rock Bees, at Wilderness Orchard in New Delhi. The colony has constructed a single exposed comb suspended from a thick tree branch, a nesting behavior typical of this species in tropical and subtropical climates. Thousands of worker bees form a dense outer layer known as a “bee curtain,” which helps regulate hive temperature and protect the colony from predators. Giant Honey Bees are among the largest honey bee species in the world and are important pollinators across South and Southeast Asia. The surrounding tree canopy and orchard habitat provide suitable nesting and foraging conditions for the colony. The footage documents the structure and behavior of a wild honey bee colony in an urban green space.