GARDENS & ENVIRONMENT
STORY BY KELSEY CORCORAN
Bees are obviously very important in maintaining our gardens and are the very reason we have such beautiful flowers and fruits but the role of the native Australian bee is vital to the upkeep of Australia’s flora. European bees were introduced about 200 years ago and are very different from Australian bees. Australian bees don’t store nectar so they produce a very small amount of honey if any at all which is why European bees were introduced. Australia has 1650 known species of bees which are all important as they pollinate native plants which cannot be pollinated by introduced species.
Native bees range from about two millimetres to two and a half centimetres long. You are unlikely to be stung by a native bee as they are less aggressive as they do not live in a hive with a queen that they need to protect. Native bees usually live alone in wood, stems of some plants, rock gaps and homes they dig underground. Native bees that do build hives are stingless but you should still keep your distance from their hives.
To help bees feel welcome in your yard you can create a bee hotel, keep pesticides to a minimum and only use them when bees aren’t likely to be flying such as the coldest part of the day, add pebbles and rocks to a bird bath so bees have a place to land and drink and plant bee-friendly plants such as:
- Brachyscome
- Christmas Bush
- Grevilleas
- Fan Flower
- Senna clavigera
- Bottlebrush
- Eucalyptus
- Hibbertia scandens
- Lemon Scented Tea Tree
- Coast Rosemary
Have you picked up a copy of our magazine?
Available at Hervey Bay Stockland’s, Night Owl, Food n Groove, Maryborough Art Gallery, and various other newsagents throughout the Fraser Coast..
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