UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 1 September 2026

Tetragonula nagalandensis Latest News

Recently, scientists have discovered a new species of stingless honey bee and named it Tetragonula nagalandensis.

About Tetragonula nagalandensis

It is a species of stingless honey bee discovered in Nagaland.
The name nagalandensis was chosen as a tribute to the state of Nagaland, where the bee was first discovered in the Medziphema region.
It brings the total number of known stingless bee species in the country to 19.
Their unique reproductive anatomy provides the fingerprint needed for identification.
Characteristics
- Morphology: Under a microscope, the researchers found distinct differences in the male's underside and reproductive organs, specifically a C-shaped notch and a sharply curved penis valve.
- It is notably smaller, with a body length of about 5 millimetres.
- Unlike common honey bees that build hives in trees or buildings, these bees are subterranean, living under the soil.
- Its home is also unique; as it builds compact clusters of brood cells protected by several thin layers of wax and organic material to survive the damp, underground environment.
Ecological Role: Stingless bees are vital pollinators for local crops and wild vegetation.

Source: RM

Tetragonula nagalandensis FAQs

Q1: What is Tetragonula nagalandensis ?

Ans: Stingless honey bee

Q2: Where did researchers discover Tetragonula nagalandensis?

Ans: Nagaland

Coral Bleaching Latest News

Recently, the seventh Status of Coral Reefs of the World report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) said that Coral bleaching events are becoming more frequent and recovery periods have shortened dramatically.

About Coral Bleaching

It occurs when corals experience stress in their environment due to changes in temperature, pollution or high levels of ocean acidity.
Process of Coral Bleaching
- Under stressed conditions, the zooxanthellae or food-producing algae living inside coral polyps start producing reactive oxygen species, which are not beneficial to the corals.
- So, the corals expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae from their polyps, which expose their pale white exoskeleton, giving the corals a bleached appearance.
- This also ends the symbiotic relationship that helps the corals to survive and grow.

What Causes Coral Bleaching?

Change in Ocean Temperature: Increased Ocean temperature caused by climate change is the leading cause of coral bleaching.
Runoff and Pollution: Storm generated precipitation can rapidly dilute ocean water and runoff can carry pollutants, which can bleach near shore corals.
Overexposure to sunlight: When temperatures are high, high solar irradiance contributes to bleaching in shallow water corals.
Extremely low tides: Exposure to the air during extremely low tides can cause bleaching in shallow corals.

What are Corals?

Corals are marine invertebrates or animals not possessing a spine.
Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony, which grows when polyps multiply to make copies of themselves.
Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
The algae provide the coral with food and nutrients, which they make through photosynthesis, using the sun’s light.
In turn, the corals give the algae a home and key nutrients. The zooxanthellae also give corals their bright colour.

Source: DTE

Coral Bleaching FAQs

Q1: What is Coral Bleaching?

Ans: It is the expulsion of zooxanthellae Symbiodinium algae due to heat stress, coral turns white.

Q2: What are the major Indian Coral reef regions?

Ans: Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar