HOME WHAT'S ON MAIN MENU

WHAT ARE NATIVE BEES?

Aussie Bee > Key Facts about Australian Native Bees

Australia's largest and smallest native bees

There are at least 1,700 species of "true blue" Australian native bees (see photos of some common examples below).

Commercial honey bees (Apis mellifera) are not native to Australia. They were introduced from Europe in about 1822.

Australian native bees can be black, yellow, red, metallic green or even black with blue polka dots! They can be fat and furry, or sleek and shiny.

Australia's smallest native bee is Cape York's minute Quasihesma bee (shown in photo above, with Australia's biggest bee). It is less than 2 mm long.

Australia's largest native bee is the Great Carpenter Bee of the tropical north and northern NSW. It is up to 24 mm long.

Most Australian bees are solitary bees which raise their young in burrows in the ground or in tiny hollows in timber.

Australia also has 11 species of social native bees (genera Tetragonula* and Austroplebeia) which do not sting!
(*Previously called Trigona)

Stingless bee honey is a delicious bush food and stingless bees can be good crop pollinators. So stingless beekeeping is becoming increasingly popular.

Native bees are also important pollinators of Australia's unique wildflowers and are a vital part of our Australian bushland.


AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BEES

stingless native bee

Stingless Social Bee (Tetragonula - previously called Trigona) - 4mm. These tiny native bees nest in large social colonies with hundreds or thousands of bees inside hollow trees. They can be kept in hives and produce delicious tangy honey.

blue banded native bee

Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla) - 11mm. These delightful solitary bees are one of Australia's favourite native bee species. They nest in shallow burrows in the ground.

native carpenter bees

Great Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa) - 24mm. These are the largest native bees in Australia. They nest in soft dead timber.

native teddy bear bee

Teddy Bear Bee (Amegilla) - 12mm. These brown furry solitary native bees nest in shallow burrows in the ground.


INTRODUCED EUROPEAN BEES

introduced european honey bee

European Honeybee (Apis) - 12mm. This bee plays an important role in honey production and crop pollination throughout Australia. However, feral nests of this bee are also found in most areas of Australia.

introduced european bumble bee - photo by Vera Buhl

European Bumblebee (Bombus) - 8 to 22 mm. (Photo derived from work by Vera Buhl, CC BY-SA 3.0.) Australia has no native Bumblebees. A feral population of this bee has become established in Tasmania but fortunately it has not spread to the Australian mainland.

Learn more...

native bee photo gallery

Aussie Bee's Native Bee Photo Gallery

Explore Australian native bees...

Back to top

HOME

Australian Native Bees
What are Native Bees?
Native Bee ID Guide
Bee Photo Gallery
Native Bee Videos
Bees in Your Area
Common Questions

Stingless Native Bees
What are Stingless Bees?
Buy Stingless Bees
Keep Stingless Bees
Save a Damaged Nest
Honey Production
Crop Pollination

Support Native Bees
Rescue Native Bees
Make a Bee Hotel
Bee-Friendly Gardens
Pollination
Bees in Houses - Advice
Varroa Mite Crisis

Study Native Bees
Free In-depth Articles
Native Bee eBooks
Field Guide eBook
Other Good Books
Seminars
Links

About Aussie Bee
Who We Are
Donations
Free Newsletter
Site Map
Privacy Policy
Copyright Policy

Visit Aussie Bee's Facebook page for stories and photos from the world of native bees:
Aussie Bee on Facebook

Back to top

...
...