Native Bees are crucial to the survival of our planet. They help produce some of the world’s most important foods, including apples and almonds. When people think of bees, they typically think of the European honey bee, but Australia has over 1,700 unique species of native bees. Not all of these bees make honey but they’re all responsible for pollinating Australian plants. Some native bees you might see in Newcastle include the Stingless bee, Yellow and Black Carpenter Bees, Green Carpenter Bees, Reed Bees, and Blue Banded Bees.
Australian Bees
Native bees play a vital, yet underappreciated, role in pollination and provide significant contributions to the agricultural ecosystem. At Newcastle Pest Exterminators, we are committed to using safe pesticides in small amounts that effectively target pests but do not affect the local native bee population. If you’re having trouble with native bees in your garden, give us a call and we will be happy to help you with them.
Fun Facts About Local Bees
- The Stingless Bee is one of the most common types of native bees in Newcastle. These black bees get their name from the lack of a stinger on their abdomen. Stingless bees are very small and easy to miss but are one of the only species of native bees to produce honey. Known to set up their hives inside hollow trees but are also occasionally be found inside gaps in urban homes or concrete pathways.
- The Yellow and Black Carpenter Bees are one of Australia’s largest native bees ranging from 15mm to 25mm. These fuzzy big bees get their name due to their habit of building burrows in soft timber trees. As their name suggests, the Carpenter Bee is yellow and black.
- Green Carpenter Bees are beautiful and unique due to their glossy green appearance with spots of blue or yellow. Smaller than the Yellow and Black Carpenter Bee, these bees only grow up to 17mm. Green Carpenter bees make their nest in the stalks of flowers and other dead timber.
- Reed Bees are smaller, skinny black bees that only grow to 8mm long. Although some species also have a distinctive red abdomen. Reed Bees love to nest in twigs, dead fern trees, or in raspberry bushes.
- The Blue Banded Bee is one of the most distinctive native bees with stripes of blue & black across their abdomen. These bees love to pollinate lavender flowers and tomatoes. They are found building shallow burrows in the ground.
If you’re having trouble with native bees in your garden it’s best to call a professional like the team at Newcastle Pest Exterminators. We can provide solutions and advice on relocating the bees or ways to avoid them coming back. For more information about our services check out our website!
