Omari Gates
Australia is home to a diverse range of native bees, with an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 species, including the Blue-banded Bee, Teddy Bear Bee, and Green Carpenter Bee. These bees vary in size, colour, and behaviour, and can be found in most of Australia's habitats, from tropical rainforests in the north to deserts in the centre. To find and attract native bees, one can create bee-friendly gardens with native flowering plants, provide bee houses or hollows, and participate in citizen science projects that monitor and identify bee species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of native bee species | 1,700-2,000 |
| Bee families | Stenotritidae, Colletidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae, Apidae |
| Stingless bee species | 11 |
| Stingless bee length | 3-5mm |
| Stingless bee colour | Black |
| Stingless bee honey | Sugarbag |
| Largest bee species | Great Carpenter Bee |
| Largest bee length | 17-26mm |
| Smallest bee species | Quasihesma Bee |
| Smallest bee length | <2mm |
| Bee colours | Black, red, green, yellow, brown, metallic green, black with blue polka dots |
| Bee habitats | Carpets of flowers in heathlands, blossoms on gum trees, desert sands, straggly trees near isolated waterholes, suburban gardens, city parks, bushland, native gardens |
| Bee behaviours | Buzz pollination, building small individual nests |
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What You'll Learn
- Look for native bees in carpets of flowers in heathlands and blossoms on gum trees
- Search for bees nesting in straggly trees near isolated waterholes or burrows in the ground
- Identify native bees by their wings, legs, eyes and antennae
- Find stingless bees in WA, from the Hamersley Ranges northwards
- Discover the blue-banded bee in suburban gardens and city parks
Look for native bees in carpets of flowers in heathlands and blossoms on gum trees
Australia is home to a diverse range of native bees, with multitudes found in carpets of flowers in heathlands and blossoms on gum trees. Gum trees, also known as Eucalyptus and Angophora trees, produce prolific flowers that attract a wide range of native bee species. When gum trees are in bloom, their branches are laden with dense blossoms, drawing many kinds of bees.
The vast Australian continent boasts tropical rainforests in the north, snow-capped mountains in the south, and deserts in the centre. Despite these varied landscapes, native bees are present in most habitats. They swarm around blossoms at the tops of gum trees and throng the carpets of flowers in heathlands.
Heathlands are characterised by low-growing shrubs, including heather and other small plants. These shrubs produce an abundance of small flowers that provide a valuable food source for native bees. The dense clusters of blossoms on heathland shrubs offer easily accessible nectar and pollen, making heathlands ideal foraging grounds for bees.
Gum trees, or Eucalyptus trees, are particularly attractive to native bees due to their abundant and nectar-rich flowers. Grevillea, a type of shrub, is also a favourite of native bees. Spider Flower Grevillea hybrids, for example, produce large amounts of nectar that attract a wide range of bee species. Additionally, some bee species, such as Stingless Bees, rely on mature gum trees as a source of resin for nest-building.
To find Australian native bees, seek out areas with flowering gum trees and heathland carpets, and you'll likely witness the bustling activity of these important pollinators.
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Search for bees nesting in straggly trees near isolated waterholes or burrows in the ground
Australia is home to around 1,700 species of native bees, with more being discovered each year. Some Australian native bees nest in straggly trees near isolated waterholes or burrow in the ground.
To find bees nesting in straggly trees near isolated waterholes, look for stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria) in Queensland and NSW. These bees are tiny, measuring only 3-5mm in length, and are black in colour. They live in large nests inside hollow trees, with a similar social structure to European honeybees, including a queen, workers, and males.
Bees that nest in straggly trees can also be found in other parts of Australia, such as the Green Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa Lestis) in QLD and NSW. These bees are glossy metallic green with hints of yellow or blue and are up to 17mm long. They create nest burrows in the flower stalks of the grass tree (Xanthorrhoea) or other soft pithy dead timber.
To find bees nesting in the ground, look for small piles or patches of bare soil, which indicate the entrances to underground nests. Some ground-nesting bees to look out for in Australia include the male sweat bee (Augochlorella aurata) and the blue-banded bee (Amegilla). The blue-banded bee is particularly important for agriculture as it is capable of buzz pollination, a special type of pollination where the bee vibrates its flight muscles to release pollen from tiny capsules in certain flowers.
It's important to note that while most ground-dwelling bees are harmless and not aggressive, some species, like the Africanized bee or "killer bee," can be very aggressive and territorial. Always exercise caution when approaching any bee nest.
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Identify native bees by their wings, legs, eyes and antennae
Australia is home to over 1,700 species of native bees, which can be found in most of the country's diverse habitats. They come in a dazzling array of colours and sizes, with some being furry and others shiny.
To identify a native Australian bee, it is important to observe the insect's wings, legs, eyes, and antennae closely. Bees can often be mistaken for wasps or flies, such as hover flies, which are common garden visitors and sip nectar from flowers. Some flies even have black and yellow bands that make them look like bees.
The wings of bees are a key identifying feature. The marginal cell of the forewing and the unique wing veins can help distinguish a honey bee from other insects. By studying the wings, you can usually narrow down the identification of a bee to the genus level.
Observing the legs of a bee can also provide useful identification clues. For example, Green Carpenter Bees have furry black hind legs that they use for carrying pollen.
Native bees in Australia also have distinct antennae and eye features that can help differentiate them from other insects. While specific details on these features were not readily available, combining observations of these with the wings and legs can help identify a native Australian bee with greater certainty.
Additionally, some native bees have distinctive colours and patterns. For instance, Yellow and Black Carpenter Bees have glossy black abdomens and bright yellow fur on the thorax, while males are covered in yellow-brown or olive fur.
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Find stingless bees in WA, from the Hamersley Ranges northwards
Australia has over 1,700 species of native bees, with 11 of these being stingless. These stingless bees are native honey-producing bees called Tetragonula (previously known as Trigona) and Austroplebeia. They are tiny, measuring between 3 to 5 mm in length, and black in colour. They are social bees, living in large nests inside hollow trees, with a queen, workers, and males, similar to European honeybees. In Western Australia, stingless bees are only found from the Hamersley Ranges northwards. They are not found in more southern areas of Western Australia as local authorities are opposed to their introduction due to the potential disturbance of the region's wildflowers and pollinators.
If you are looking to find stingless bees in WA, from the Hamersley Ranges northwards, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, stingless bees typically nest inside hollow trees, but they have also been known to nest in urban areas, such as wall cavities or underneath concrete footpaths. They are particularly attracted to resin and have been observed "borrowing" it from stingless bee hives to build their own nests. So, keep an eye out for resin or bees congregating around it. Secondly, stingless bees are more commonly found in tropical climates, so target areas with suitable conditions. Thirdly, they are relatively small, so look for small holes or gaps in timber or stonework that could indicate a stingless bee nest. Finally, you can try contacting local beekeepers or suppliers, such as Matthew Middleton or Tom Harrold, who may be able to provide more specific information on finding stingless bees in the region.
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Discover the blue-banded bee in suburban gardens and city parks
Australia is home to around 1,700 species of native bees, with more being discovered each year. One of these species is the blue-banded bee (Amegilla cingulata), a solitary bee that can be spotted in suburban gardens and city parks.
Blue-banded bees are native to Australia and are distinguished by their striking appearance, with bands of metallic blue fur across their black abdomens. They are small, growing to around 10-12 mm in length, and are often described as beautiful and mesmerising. These bees are solitary, with each female bee mating and building a solitary nest on her own. The nests are usually built in shallow burrows in clay soil or mud bricks, and many blue-banded bees may build their nests close to one another in the same spot.
To attract blue-banded bees to your garden, you can create a mud brick with a variety of holes before it dries and place it in a sheltered position. Alternatively, you can use an extruded brick with core holes and fill them with mud before drilling holes for the bees once the mud dries. Placing soil from an existing blue-banded bee nesting site on the brick can also help attract female bees to the new nest.
Blue-banded bees are important for agriculture and are capable of a special type of pollination called 'buzz pollination'. They can vibrate their flight muscles to release pollen from tiny capsules in the centre of certain flowers, such as tomato flowers, and then transfer this pollen to other flowers, successfully pollinating them. This makes them ideal for greenhouse tomato pollination, and they are being studied for their potential use in crop pollination as well.
So, if you want to discover blue-banded bees, explore the gardens and parks in your area, especially those with flowers like basil, lavender, snapdragons, or tomato flowers. Keep an eye out for their distinctive blue and black colouring, and you might just spot these beautiful native bees in action!
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is home to an estimated 1,700-2,000 species of native bees, including Stingless Bees, Blue-banded Bees, Great Carpenter Bees, Teddy Bear Bees, and Quasihesma Bees.
Native bees can be found in most of Australia's diverse habitats, from tropical rainforests in the north to snow-capped mountains in the south. They inhabit heathlands, gum tree blossoms, desert sands, and areas near isolated waterholes. Approximately 800 species occur in Western Australia, and at least 50 species inhabit the bushlands around Perth.
Australian native bees come in a variety of sizes, colours, and patterns, ranging from 2 mm to 24 mm in length. They can be furry or shiny and are often black, red, yellow, brown, green, or blue. To distinguish them from similar-looking insects like wasps and flies, look closely at their wings, legs, eyes, and antennae.
To attract native bees to your garden, plant a variety of flowering plants, especially those native to your area. You can also create bee-friendly hollows and build "bee hotels" to provide habitat for the bees.
