Australia has over 1700 species of native bees and unlike their honey bee counter parts most of them are solitary, not living in hives but instead nesting in the hollows, holes and cracks found in nature.
As is frequently the case with a lot of animals and insects, development has led to fewer nesting spots being available to our native bees. Fortunately, building a home to attract them in your own backyard is very easy.
You will need:
· Washed tin can
· Bamboo stalks cut into sections – leave 10-15cm of hollow stem between joints with an enclosed end to entice the bees
· String for hanging your hotel
Then simply insert your chosen materials and into the can until they are tightly-packed and nothing moves when you go to hang it up.
You can also use timber, fence palings, fruit crates etc– just ensure all materials are non-toxic and there are plenty of smooth, cylindrical spaces for the bees to seek refuge. The openings need to be large enough for the bees to enter, and they range in size from 2-10mm.
Just like a hotel for humans, location is important for your bee hotel! It should be placed in a sheltered, semi-shaded position facing north to north east at least 1 metre off the ground.
A good hotel is usually located near a great restaurant, so here are some tips for planting a garden with attractive food sources for the bees:
Select a variety of different coloured and shaped plants that that flower year-round
Plant a group of each flower species
Select plants that also provide nesting materials for the bees
Avoid insecticide use in your garden
Bottlebrush, gum trees, grevillea hybrids, lavender, tea tree, and native rosemary are good choices for a bee-friendly buffet.
Native bees are quite fascinating and diverse in their appearance, ranging from the glossy metallic green of the Green Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa (Lestis)) to the aptly-named teddy bear bee (Amegilla (Asarapoda)), with its thick, fluffy overcoat.
Commercial honey bees (Apis mellifera) are not native to Australia. They were introduced from Europe in about 1822. Most native bees do not produce honey in the quantities of the honey bee, but they are important pollinators of Australia’s unique wildflowers and are a vital part of our bushland.
