The sweet taste of honey, the sound of Spring or a sharp and painful sensation brought on by a sting – we all have particular associations when we think of bees.
As pollinators, however, bees play a major role in multi-billion dollar industries all over the world, as well as a critical role in the way our ecosystem thrives.
We are mostly familiar with the common (‘European’) honey bee, yet Australia has over 1,500 species of native bees that live in a wide variety of nest sites, which unfortunately can be destroyed through landscaping and careless gardening.
The good news is there are things you can do at home to help the buzzing little workers thrive, like cultivating flowers and plants suitable for bees, providing them with a healthy environment in which to exist.
We tend to pay close attention to the plants we personally want and don’t want in our gardens (such as ‘weeds’). However, animals and insects aren’t so picky – even weeds can provide pollen and nectar, so before clearing them out, consider leaving them until after their flowers are spent (but before they go to seed).
If you really want to help out nature’s pollinators – not just bees, but butterflies, flies, wasps and beetles also perform the function – plan your garden to include a range of plants that will offer pollen and nectar throughout the year.
Plant or encourage the growth of plants native to your area, as native bees will automatically have a stronger attraction to them. They particularly like eucalypts, grevilleas, callistemons and melaleucas, amongst many others, though they also like non-native plants like roses.
Some of the best non-native plants to encourage an increase of bee activity around your garden are herbs such as borage, basil, lavender, hyssop or rosemary or flowers such as Zinnia, Wallflower, Globe thistle or Cotoneaster.
If you can avoid using pesticides, do, or aim for one with low levels of toxins, and keep bees in mind while you’re planting – they will need shelter from strong winds, and have been found to prefer warmer sunlit spots to shaded areas.
According to the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, bees come in a great range of colours and sizes, from a tiny 2mm to 24mm. Some have furry overcoats while others are smooth and shiny like a stainless steel kettle. During these warmer months, you have a good chance of seeing native bees anywhere in Australia. Bees nest in habitats as diverse as tree hollows, underground burrows or inside plant stems.
Native bees that you are most likely to see include ;
Stingless Social Bees (Trigona and Austroplebeia) – Australia’s own native honeybees can be found building resinous nests inside hollow trees. They store their aromatic honey in tiny pots.
Leafcutter Bees (Megachile, pictured) – Many gardeners first discover leafcutter bees when they notice the neat circular pieces that the bees have cut away from the edges of leaves. The bees weave these leaf pieces making tiny cells for their young.
Blue Banded Bees (Amegilla) – These bees love visiting purple flowers such as native peas.
Teddy Bear Bees (Amegilla) – These fat bees can be found nesting in shallow burrows in the soil.
Reed Bees (Exoneura) – Reed bees make a habit of nesting in dried stems of a number of plants including tree ferns and the dead canes of lantana. When these plants are removed from gardens or bushland people often don’t realise they are destroying the colonies of these bees. Check for nests and relocate them before removing.
DID YOU KNOW?
– European honeybees collect 90% of available nectar and pollen but pollinate only about 5 of our plants.
– Native bee honey called Sugarbag has a unique, tangy flavour.
– Not all bees sting. In fact, most Australian bees don’t.
– Most Australian bees are solitary. Of the 2000 species of native bees only 10 are social and form hives.
We hope you have enjoyed this article. It is our pleasure being your real estate agents in Brisbane.
If you would like any assistance or advice, please feel very welcome to get in touch with our Brisbane real estate agents, Brisbane property management team, or Brisbane buyers agents.
