We’ve recently welcomed two new colonies of native bees to B4C’s sustainability centre, adding to our collection of Native Bee hives. Our new colonies are home to two native bee species: Austroplebeia australis and Tetragonula carbonaria.
Thank you to Adam from Envirobees for rescuing and helping to establish the bees, and to volunteer Julie for her support.
Did you know that Australia is home to over 2,000 species of native bees? Many of these species are yet to be scientifically named and described. They are wonderfully diverse, varying in size, shape, colour, social structure, and behaviour. While some, like our new colonies, live in social hives, many Australian native bees are solitary.
Meet Austroplebeia australis
Austroplebeia australis is a stingless bee found only in Australia and Papua New Guinea. These bees have a clever way of surviving the tough conditions of the Australian bush. During droughts, when flowers are scarce, they conserve energy by shrinking their colony size to as few as 50 bees. But when conditions improve, they quickly grow their numbers and thrive again.
This resilience has allowed A. australis to spread widely across Queensland, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory, making them one of the most successful native bees in Australia.
One of the special traits of A. australis is their year-round activity. While they are most active from September to March, they continue working throughout the year as long as temperatures are above 20°C. This makes them valuable pollinators for crops and plants that bloom at different times of the year.
These bees are also very selective foragers, focusing on nectar with higher sugar levels. This means they work efficiently and make a big impact when it comes to pollination.
We’re looking forward to seeing how these new colonies will contribute to our local environment. Native bees like A. australis are vital for healthy ecosystems, and we’re proud to give them a safe place to thrive.
Tetragonula carbonaria: A Favourite Native Bee for Backyard Enthusiasts
Tetragonula carbonaria is one of Australia’s most well-loved native bee species, often kept in backyard hives for their pollination abilities and fascinating behaviours. These stingless bees are active throughout the year, making them an excellent choice for anyone interested in supporting local ecosystems.
T. carbonaria colonies remain active all year, though they’re busiest during the warmer months from October to March. Their flight activity peaks in September and slows in May, with bees only flying when temperatures exceed 18°C. This year-long activity is especially valuable for pollinating crops and plants that bloom at different times of the year.
Colonies of T. carbonaria are carefully managed by their workers. Each brood cell is filled with honey and pollen, and the queen lays an egg before sealing the cell. The larvae grow entirely within the closed cell, and once they emerge as adults, the cell is destroyed.
Beekeepers often divide T. carbonaria hives to create new colonies. A new queen is chosen, but she doesn’t leave for the new nest until the workers have fully prepared it. Once the new nest is ready, the queen moves in, while the old queen continues to reign in the original colony.
A hive’s readiness to be split depends on the availability of nectar and pollen. A heavy hive, filled with honey stores and a thriving population of bees, indicates the colony is strong and ready to expand.
T. carbonaria bees are skilled foragers, collecting nectar, pollen, and resin to support their colony. They exhibit a foraging behaviour called “opportunism,” where individual bees search independently for resources. When a rich food source is found, they quickly recruit others to harvest it until it’s depleted. These bees are experts at identifying nectar with the highest sugar concentration, ensuring the colony gets the most energy-efficient resources. To guide their nest mates, foragers mark these high-quality food sources with pheromones, making it easier for others to locate them.
Supporting Pollination and Biodiversity
If you’d like to attract and support native bees in your garden without investing in a native bee hive, here’s how you can help:
- Plant native trees and plants specific to your area
Choose species indigenous to your region by sourcing them from a local nursery to ensure they’re suited to your environment. Aim for a diverse garden that flowers throughout the year, with a variety of flower shapes to support different types of bees. - Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides
These sprays harm not only pests but also beneficial insects like bees and other predators of garden pests. If insecticides are necessary, apply them at night when pollinators are least active to minimise harm. - Provide diverse habitats for nesting bees
Native bees nest in various places, so maintaining a variety of habitats is key. Consider:
- Installing bee hotels for solitary bees
- Adding nesting blocks with clay soil for blue-banded bees
- Leaving dead trees with hollows for stingless bees
- Keeping areas of bare, well-drained, mulch-free ground for ground-nesting bees
