Aussie Bee Bulletin
Rare photos and intriguing facts on the secret lives of Australian Native Bees.

Issue 9 (February 1999)

THIS ISSUE'S FEATURED BEE Leafcutter Bee (genus Megachile)

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

THE MARVELLOUS LEAFCUTTER BEES - The leafcutter bees (genus Megachile) have some of the most fascinating behaviour of any of the Australian native bees. They get their name from the way in which they cut neat pieces of leaf for building materials and weave these materials into tiny cradles for their young.

POLLINATION OF CROPS BY LEAFCUTTER BEES - The Australian native leafcutter bee is the world's best example of using a wild bee for crop pollination. Dr Tim Heard explains how important they are and how to help them.

CANADIAN LEAFCUTTER BEE IMPORTATION - NEWS UPDATE - In the 1998 field trials in Deniliquin, NSW, 200,000 imported Canadian leafcutter bees pollinated lucerne crops. Dr Denis Anderson, of CSIRO, Canberra, discusses the results along with ideas on an alternative: the Australian native leafcutter bee.

TIPS ON KEEPING AUSTRALIAN STINGLESS BEES - Some remarkable observations and timely tips from Denis Shepherd.

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST SURVEY OF STINGLESS BEEKEEPING - A PROGRESS REPORT - In November, 1998, the Australian Native Bee Research Centre launched Australia's first-ever Survey of Stingless Beekeeping. In this article we present the preliminary results of this historic survey.

"LET'S BUILD ANOTHER HOUSE" - Tom Carter presents a light-hearted but informative look at life inside a stingless beehive.

ON NATIVE BEE SAFARI - IN SEARCH OF THE MOSQUITO BEE ON CAPE YORK (Part 2) - Les Dollin continues the story of the adventures in search of Australia's smallest stingless bee.

FASCINATING POLLINATORS - A HAIRLESS BEE AND TWO DECEITFUL ORCHIDS - The tale of two nectarless orchids which obtain pollination services by pure deception.