Native Bees
All posts about native bees ...
How we went from one known species of blue-banded bee in the Albury area, to three species (in two days!).
Starring Michael Batley, Dr Manu Saunders and the Wild Pollinator Count at Albury Botanic Gardens and Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre.
In this video a native bee breaks its way out of the cell its mother created and sealed a year ago. It uses its mouth parts to remove the resin seal, eventually enabling it to fly off.
These native bees were spotted before the official start to spring.
A little video of the stunning Chequered cuckoo bee.
Spring - it's all happening: first blue banded bees of the season, plus roosting Megachile bees, blue tongue lizards in the garden and the impressive work of fruit trees from bloom to setting fruit.
The native bees have returned for the new season. Here are some I've seen so far.
A close up look at how this native bee uses leaf material to create a seal that completes her series of brood cells in the hole of a bee hotel.
Watch a female Megachile ferox (native bee) working to create her nest in one of our bee hotels. And update on the roosting male M. ferox seen nearby at night.
I discovered some native bees roosting on Dianella stems. Their antics as they select their spots for the night are great fun to watch - here's a little video.
Leafcutter bees line their nests with leaves - and we found some in a sleeper!
Joanne Diver's "Bee Inn" featured in the gold medal winning Australian garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Allison Jess from ABC Goulburn Murray dropped by to find out about our bee hotels. Here's the resulting video.
More Q's and A's for those contemplating adding a bee or insect hotel to their garden.
My artist friends make particularly pretty habitat for insects! And some more Q's and A's about what to expect if you have a go too.
Creating an artificial nesting spot for bees in your garden is easy - here's ours.
Some of the entertaining antics of roosting male resin bees (with video!).
They jostle for position, have a night-time and morning routine. They are small and hard to spot, but consistently visit our neighbourhood for weeks each spring.