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AUSSIE BEE EMAIL UPDATE
NEWS ON THE LATEST NATIVE BEE
ARTICLES, BOOKLETS, EVENTS AND RESEARCH
Number 17 / April 2010
Topics in this Issue:
1. ANNOUNCING THE 2010 STINGLESS BEEKEEPING SURVEY!
2. SPECTACULAR NEW VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
3. BLUE BANDED BEES CREATE A REAL BUZZ
4. SCIENTIST THANKS OUR STINGLESS BEE KEEPERS
5. UPCOMING NATIVE BEE EVENTS
1. ANNOUNCING THE 2010 STINGLESS BEEKEEPING SURVEY!
It is over ten years since our last survey of stingless beekeeping. So Megan Halcroft of the University of Western Sydney and Anne Dollin of Aussie Bee have just launched a follow up survey.
Stingless bees are a vital resource for Australian agriculture and we need to know how much the industry has grown in the last decade.
Even if you have only one nest of stingless bees, you can still contribute crucial information to this new survey.
Everyone who completes the survey will receive a free copy of the article, 'Stingless Beekeeping Around the World', tracing the art of stingless beekeeping from its centuries-old origins in Mexico to modern practice in Australia.
The survey is short, easy to complete and completely confidential.
Please take part in this important survey by visiting:
http://www.beesbusiness.com.au
2. SPECTACULAR NEW VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
We apologise that we have not been able to bring you an email update for some time. We have been focusing on some urgent stingless bee research and have also had some serious family health issues.
However, now in 2010 Aussie Bee is back and to celebrate our return we bring you a magnificent collection of new native bee videos and photographs.
Check out our hand-picked selection of the best native bee videos from overseas including a tour of Peru's incredible stingless bees by leading scientist, Claus Rasmussen.
And we are also proud to present a stunning collection of Australian native bee videos and photographs, just released, by talented photographers, Erica Siegel and 'Peter O'.
To view these new videos and photographs, please visit:
http://www.aussiebee.com.au/videos-native-bees.html
3. BLUE BANDED BEES CREATE A REAL BUZZ
Never before have so many questions been asked about an Australian native bee at the same time!
Last year the blue banded bee was the focus of a huge ecological murder mystery game run in schools across Australia. An amazing 24,000 students participated, all wanting to learn about the habits of blue banded bees and producing some great work!
Read all about this unprecedented native bee event in our latest Aussie Bee Online article, 'Blue Banded Bees Create a Buzz in School'. To read this article, visit:
http://www.aussiebee.com.au/abol-current.html
4. SCIENTIST THANKS OUR STINGLESS BEE KEEPERS
Rute Brito, from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, has just completed a years' stingless bee research in Australia. Working in Dr Ben Oldroyd's Bee Lab at the University of Sydney, Rute studied the genetics of Trigona carbonaria and Trigona hockingsi and their methods of building brood combs.
Rute and her husband travelled widely to collect bee samples from Cooktown to Brisbane and also around the Sydney area. Rute wishes to thank everyone who helped her in this sampling work including:
Dr Wendy Forno, Bob (from Cairns), Charlie Roberts, William White, Paul Anderson and his parents, Les Felhaber, Tom Carter, Alan Matthews, Wayne and Colleen Allen, Dr Helen Wallace, Bob Luttrell, Russell and Janine Zabel, Dr Tim Heard, John Klumpp, Peter Davenport, Cec Heather, Col Webb, Marg Tracey, Luke Mancel, Dr Anne Dollin, Adrian Lewis, Carlos Alonso, Megan Halcroft, Alan Ashhurst, Keith Paull, Roderick Yates and Martyn Robinson.
Rute said, 'Being in Australia was an amazing journey for me. The trip was fantastic. We got to see beautiful places, to talk to so many beekeepers and to drive on the left side of the road! Ben was an amazing supervisor, encouraging and supportive, and the university staff made me feel very welcome.'
'I achieved my goals: to know the Australian stingless bees and be part of a cutting edge research group. Actually, I achieved so much more! I made very good friends at the lab and through ANBees group; and I fell in love with beautiful Australia!'
We will bring you details about about Rute's discoveries in Aussie Bee Online once she finalises her work.
5. UPCOMING NATIVE BEE EVENTS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Native Bee Display at Wild Australia Expo
Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May 2010, 10am to 4 pm
Anne Dollin of Aussie Bee and Megan Halcroft of the University of Western Sydney will be will be displaying native bees this year at the University of Western Sydney's stand at the Wild Australia Expo.
At this stage Megan expects to be there on the Friday of the show and Anne on the Saturday.
This exciting show also features marsupials, birds, frogs, all sorts of reptiles and much more! Admission charges apply: see the Wild Australia Expo website for full details:
http://www.wildexpo.com.au
QUEENSLAND
Dr Tim Heard presents regular workshops on stingless beekeeping in Brisbane. Unfortunately his next workshop is already booked out and further workshops have not been scheduled yet.
Check the Aussie Bee website in coming months for updates:
http://www.aussiebee.com.au/seminars.html
Bye for now.
Kind regards
Anne Dollin
Aussie Bee
Copyright (C) 2010 Australian Native Bee Research Centre. All Rights Reserved.
Australian Native Bee Research Centre / Aussie Bee
PO Box 74, North Richmond NSW 2754, Australia
Fax: (02) 4576 1196.
Promoting the Preservation and Enjoyment of Australian Native Bees
Visit our Website! http://www.aussiebee.com.au
© 2010 Australian Native Bee Research Centre
PO Box 74, North Richmond NSW 2754, Australia
Fax: 02-4576 1196
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