Increasing global urbanization has resulted in the decline of local biodiversity and suitable habitat for
wild flora and fauna. Indigenous bees in particular are poorly understood and treated as pests. The lack
of baseline information in India, encumbers the scientists who monitor their movements and
fluctuations in population. In this study, melittological data has been compared and analysed to generate methods to integrate bees within the urban matrix in order to maintain the ecological balance of our metropolitan surroundings and build resilient cities.

By comparing various biodiversity measures between open land and dense urban sites, through the
lens of architectural mediation, a hypothesis was generated to provide and protect habitats of
indigenous bee species. Urban interventions such as pollinator pathways, biodiverse green roofs etc, as
potential avenues to provide patches of good-quality habitat to indigenous bees in highly developed
regions have been discussed. Concerns regarding the phenomenon of nature deficit disorder have been
addressed through the function of a Melittology center allied with a market, where citizens can view
firsthand the impact of pollinators on their produce.

Furthermore implications for pollinator conservation and urban agricultural production are discussed.

Keywords: Pollinator conservation; urban biodiversity; indigenous bees; habitat loss; urban agriculture;
food security, resilient city, nature deficit disorder.