Australia's Amazing Native Bees

Members were treated to an informative and entertaining presentation on Australia's native bees from the president of the Wide Bay Native Bee Association, Graeme Laing and Secretary, Stephen Curran, at our monthly meeting in July. Members and visitors learnt about the diversity of native bees as well as their behaviour, importance as pollinators and how they can be encouraged into our gardens.

The presenters explained that Australia is home to around 2,000 species of native bees, yet only a small number are the familiar social stingless bees that live in colonies and produce honey. The vast majority are solitary bees, each female building her own nest and raising her young without the assistance of a colony.

Social and Solitary Bees

Australia's native bees fall into two main groups.

Social stingless bees live together in colonies, produce honey and store pollen. These are the bees most people keep in hive boxes.

In contrast, solitary bees do not produce honey and each female builds her own nest. These remarkable insects nest in a wide variety of locations including hollow stems, timber, holes in the ground and abandoned insect tunnels.

Some species, such as the attractive Cuckoo Bee, lay their eggs in the nests of other bees, while the familiar Leafcutter Bee lines its nest with neatly cut pieces of leaf.

Members also learned about several other fascinating species, including:

• Green Carpenter Bees
• Great Carpenter Bees
• Blue-banded Bees
• Teddy Bear Bees
• Resin Bees

Each species plays an important role in pollinating native plants and garden crops.

Pollination Specialists

Unlike European honeybees, many native bees use a technique known as buzz pollination.

By vibrating their flight muscles while gripping a flower, they shake pollen loose from the anthers, making them exceptionally efficient pollinators for many Australian native plants and food crops.

The presenters explained that increased bee activity generally leads to improved pollination and higher crop yields.

Sunflowers were highlighted as one of the favourite food sources for local stingless bees.

Bee Hotels – Providing Homes for Solitary Bees

One of the most practical sections of the evening focused on creating habitat for solitary bees.

Members were shown several examples of simple "bee hotels" that can easily be made from:

• bamboo stems
• untreated timber
• drilled branches
• paper drinking straws
• clay blocks with holes

Recommended nesting holes are approximately 3–8 mm in diameter and around 100 mm deep.

The hotels should be placed:

• under shelter
• out of direct weather
• in shaded positions
• close to flowering plants

Several examples displayed during the meeting had already been occupied by native bees, demonstrating just how readily they are accepted.

Importantly, treated timber should never be used because of the chemicals it contains.

Native Stingless Bee Hives

Australia has two main groups of stingless bees commonly kept in hives:

• Tetragonula
• Austroplebeia

Although their brood structures differ, both build intricate brood chambers surrounded by stores of pollen and honey.

The colony is headed by a single queen, while thousands of female workers carry out all of the daily activities, including foraging, nest construction and caring for the young.

Unlike European honey bees, stingless bees produce only small quantities of honey—typically around 600 mL per hive each year—making every harvest quite special.

Splitting a Hive

One of the advantages of keeping native stingless bees is the ability to divide a strong colony and create a second hive.

When a colony becomes large and active enough, the brood chamber can be carefully divided between two matching hive boxes.

Each new hive contains brood at different stages of development, allowing both colonies to continue growing successfully.

The presenters showed several examples of hives that had been successfully divided by members of their local native bee group.

Hive Design

Several styles of hive boxes were displayed.

One popular design allows additional sections to be added as the colony expands. A honey super fitted with a clear inspection window allows honey to be harvested while encouraging the bees to store pollen elsewhere in the hive.

Different hive designs suit different species, depending on the way they naturally build their brood.

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Honey Production

Although stingless bees produce far less honey than European honey bees, their honey is highly prized.

Native bee honey:

• has a higher moisture content
• remains runny
• should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent fermentation
• has a unique flavour unlike conventional honey

Recent research has also highlighted its impressive antibacterial properties, generating growing scientific interest.

Life Cycle

Members were surprised to learn that native stingless bees have a much longer life cycle than European honey bees.

A European honey bee develops from egg to adult in approximately 21 days and lives for around 50 days.

By comparison, native stingless bees take approximately 50 days to develop from egg to adult and may live for around 100 days.

Conservation Through Education

The presenters explained that their local native bee group currently has around thirty members who regularly meet to inspect hives, demonstrate hive splitting and help new beekeepers gain practical experience.

Their aim is simple—to encourage more people to appreciate and protect Australia's remarkable native pollinators.

A Tiny Insect with a Big Role

Whether living in a carefully constructed hive or a simple bamboo stem under the eaves of a house, Australia's native bees perform an invaluable service by pollinating our gardens, orchards and native bushland.

With a little understanding and a few bee-friendly plants, every gardener can help these remarkable insects thrive.

For anyone interested in learning more, the presenters recommended books by native bee experts Megan Halcroft and Tim Heard, whose publications provide an excellent introduction to Australia's fascinating world of native bees.

The evening concluded with a display of working hives, bee hotels and plenty of questions from members, leaving everyone with a greater appreciation of these tiny but incredibly important pollinators.

Native Bee Questions Answered

Practical Advice from Our Guest Speakers

One of the highlights of our native bee presentation was the lively question-and-answer session that followed. Members asked a wide variety of questions covering everything from attracting native bees to harvesting honey and splitting hives.

Here are some of the most useful insights shared by our guest speakers.

Questions were also asked about the size and structure of native stingless bee colonies. A typical colony may contain between 5,000 and 10,000 bees, although only a few hundred of these are males. Almost all of the work within the colony is carried out by female bees, which are responsible for foraging, nest maintenance and brood care.

Building the Right Hive

Good insulation is essential for healthy native bee colonies. The speakers recommended hive boxes constructed from 20–25 mm thick pine, which helps protect the bees from both summer heat and winter cold.

Some beekeepers also add a polystyrene cover over the hive during periods of extreme temperatures for additional insulation.

When splitting a hive, the replacement box should match the original hive's external dimensions to ensure a proper fit.

Why Were Blue-Banded Bees Buzzing Around My Horse?

One member asked why blue-banded bees seemed fascinated by their horses during hot afternoons.

The speakers suggested two possible explanations:

• The bees may be attracted to the salts found in the horse's sweat.
• They may also be collecting plant resins that have become attached to the horse's legs.

It was another reminder that native bees can display some surprisingly interesting behaviour.

How Do Solitary Bees Reproduce?

Unlike social stingless bees, solitary bees do not live in colonies.

The female bee builds the nest, lays the eggs and provides food for the developing larvae. Male bees have one primary role—mating—and do not assist with nest building or caring for young.

By comparison, a stingless native bee colony may contain between 5,000 and 10,000 bees, with only a few hundred males. The female workers carry out almost every task within the hive.

Encouraging Native Bees into Your Garden

Several members wanted to know how to attract more native bees, particularly for pollinating finger limes and other fruit trees.

The advice was straightforward:

• Plant a wide diversity of flowering plants.
• Include both native species and bee-friendly garden plants.
• Provide flowers throughout the year wherever possible.

Interestingly, the presenters explained that bees can be surprisingly selective. A plant that attracts large numbers of bees in one garden may receive very little attention in another.

Plants mentioned as favourites included:

• Corymbia tomentosa
• Passionfruit
• A wide variety of flowering native plants

Diversity appears to be the key.

When Do Native Bees Fly?

Native stingless bees are much more sensitive to temperature than European honey bees.

Most species only begin flying once temperatures reach around 18–21°C.

On cold, wet or windy days, they often remain inside the hive, although the colony is still active. Experienced beekeepers know that hearing bees buzzing inside the hive is perfectly normal, even when none are visible outside.

Finding Native Bee Hives

The presenters shared an interesting piece of Indigenous knowledge.

Aboriginal people were known to tie a single hair to a bee and patiently follow its flight back to its nest. It was an ingenious method of locating wild hives in the bush.

Can an Empty Hive Attract Wild Bees?

Unfortunately, the answer is usually no.

Although wild colonies naturally establish themselves in tree hollows, the chances of them moving into an empty hive box in a backyard are extremely small.

The most reliable ways to establish a hive are to:

• split an existing colony
• rescue bees from locations such as water meter boxes
• transfer part of a healthy colony into a new hive

Do Native Bees Suffer from Varroa Mite?

Thankfully, the speakers advised that Australia's native stingless bees are not currently affected by Varroa mites, the serious pest impacting European honey bees.

Do Flower Colours Matter?

Research into native bee colour preferences is still limited.

Native bees see colours differently from humans, but the speakers suggested that gardeners should focus less on flower colour and more on planting a wide variety of flowering species.

A diverse garden will almost always attract more pollinators.

Knowing When to Split a Hive

Several members were interested in learning when a hive is ready to divide.

Experienced beekeepers look for:

• strong bee activity
• an almost full hive
• the correct hive weight

As a guide:

• Empty hive — about 4.2 kg
• Healthy full hive — about 7.5 kg
• Hive full of honey — 8.5–9 kg

Splitting involves dividing the brood chamber between two matching hive boxes.

Learning Through the Native Bee Club

The presenters explained that their group is made up of enthusiastic volunteers rather than commercial beekeepers.

Most meetings are held at members' homes where everyone can inspect hives, observe splitting demonstrations and gain practical experience.

It is a relaxed, hands-on way of learning about native beekeeping.

Is It Necessary to Split a Hive?

Not at all.

A healthy native bee hive can simply be left alone to pollinate the garden.

However, maintaining two colonies is recommended. If one colony is lost, the second provides valuable insurance and can later be used to establish another hive.

Native bee hives are currently in high demand, with prices generally ranging from $500 to $650, and many suppliers have waiting lists.

Harvesting Native Bee Honey

Harvesting honey from stingless bees differs from harvesting European honey.

The honey is stored in small resin pots rather than wax comb.

When the honey super is full:

• the honey pots are gently opened
• the honey drains naturally
• the bees repair the pots within about a week

Because native bee honey contains more moisture, it should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent fermentation. Unlike European honey, it remains beautifully runny even when chilled.

Native Bee Honey – A Valuable Natural Product

The presenters concluded by noting that recent scientific research has found native bee honey possesses impressive antibacterial properties, with some studies suggesting similarities to the well-known medicinal qualities of Manuka honey.

While much research is still underway, Australia's native stingless bees continue to demonstrate just how remarkable these tiny pollinators really are.

Final Thoughts

The question-and-answer session highlighted our members' enthusiasm and the wealth of knowledge shared by the speakers, Graeme and Stephen. Whether you are simply hoping to attract more pollinators to your garden or are considering keeping your own native bees, the message was clear: creating a diverse, flowering garden is one of the best ways to support these remarkable little insects.

You can check these links out for more information!https://www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au/about-us/gretchen-wheen/  Australian Native Beehttps://www.anba.org.au/