Stingless bees?
When you think of 'bees', you probably picture the fluffy bumblebees, or the yellow and black honey bees. The media has been giving a lot of attention to these introduced species, so it is easy to forget about our native pollinators. In Australia, we are very lucky to have a huge diversity of native bees, with around 2,000 species making their homes in our cities, bushland and outback. 11 of those species are stingless, and live in hives with thousands of other bees and a queen.
Who are these bees for?
|
These adorable bees are perfect for pets, schools and children because of their docile behaviour and, of course, because they are stingless.
Keeping a hive of Native Bees is easy as they require very little maintenance, no special training, no government or council permit, and no extensive equipment. You are also helping to conserve our beautiful native species, increase the globally declining bee populations, and pollinate all the flowers in yours and your neighbours gardens (these bees can fly up to half a kilometre away)! It is also very relaxing to sit back with a cup of tea, and watch your Bush Bees coming to and from their hive with 'Shopping Bags' full of pollen :) |
What can you do?
|
One of the easiest ways to help save our native bees is to plant flowers that attract them. For a handy list of flowers that are fantastic for bees, click this button:
Secondly, a great way to help Australia's solitary native bees is to build an insect hotel. These can be as simple as a bundle of hollow reeds, or as complex as a mixture of habitats placed together in a house-shaped structure. There are various guides and inspiration on the internet so do a quick search and get building!
You can also become the custodian of a native stingless beehive, either by purchasing one or rescuing an endangered hive. |
|
" The children get to see firsthand - actually observe the native bees. It's great. Developing school community spirit. They have to learn to be responsible in looking after the hive.”
- Teacher Jason Everett
Pollination
|
These Native Bees are perfect for backyards and garden pollination, and can help to increase your veggie patch production! However, you do not need to have a huge garden with large amounts of flowering plants, as these bees will fly up to 500m away. Infact, there are people keeping bush bees on the 30th floors of apartments!
Native bush bees have proven to be productive pollinators of many crops and other plants. Plants that have been found to be benefited most include Mangoes, Avocados, Watermelons, Blueberries, Lychees and Macadamias. Stingless bees are actually better pollinators for some of these plants than honey bees! |
|
game of DronesThis is a short video that gives an insight into a strange behaviour occasionally seen in native beehives - Fighting Swarms.
Find out more here. |
|
Bush BeesIsaac Mayer
Northbridge Sydney, NSW, Australia |
|