Do you know how to spot a native bee?

Left: A native Blue-banded bee. Right: A European honeybee

When you think of bees, you think of honey. But did you know that there are hundreds of bee species native to South Australia – none of which live in swarms, produce honey, or have a queen? Meet the native bee, Australia’s homegrown pollinator.

The bees we are most familiar with are feral European honeybees, introduced to Australia to produce honey and pollinate crops. These bees are the kind kept by beekeepers but have since become feral and produce their own nests in the wild. These nests can often be seen and heard on trees. Individual honeybees are highly social and may aggressively defend their nest by stinging nearby threats. While most people have a mild reaction to honeybee stings and do not require medical attention, some people can undergo an anaphylactic reaction that requires further treatment. In fact, the honeybee is the most common cause of allergic reactions to insects in Australia.

In contrast, native bees are typically solitary and do not build large nests with their peers, so they can often be so hard to spot. Instead, these bees nest in small holes within trees or in the ground and cover their nest entrances with natural materials such as resin or leaves.

The great thing about this is that it is very easy to create an inviting habitat for native bees in your garden. You can create something as simple as a bundle of hollow bamboo sticks zip-tied together or something as complex as a native bee hotel! The opportunities to create habitat for these creatures are endless.

The Blue-banded bee, pictured below, vibrates at high speeds to release pollen – a technique known as buzz pollination. Some local native plants, such as kangaroo apples, require this for efficient pollination. Buzz pollination is also critical for food plants, including tomatoes and potatoes. If you grow tomatoes or potatoes at home, you are likely to be receiving pollination from Blue-banded bees! Other fascinating species include Leafcutter bees, which cut semi-circular pieces of leaves to line and seal their nests, and Cuckoo bees, which lay their eggs in the nests of other native bees – much like their namesake!

Native bees are calm and gentle compared to their overseas cousins, as they do not aggressively defend their nests as feral European honeybees do. So while it is possible for some native bee species to sting, the risk is far lower.

At the City of Burnside, we are eager to promote the growth of native bee populations and have supported the creation of several public native bee hotels. We encourage you to create your own bee hotels at home too. The more native bee hotels available across the City of Burnside, the higher chance their populations will grow in our area! Find out more about native bees and bee hotels at www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Environment-Sustainability/Animals/Native-Animals/Bees