In addition to high-altitude areas such as the Atherton Tableland and the Daintree, Tetragonula carbonaria primarily has a subtropical distribution and can be found from Bundaberg to the south coast of New South Wales. This makes it the world’s most temperate species of stingless bee. It is easily distinguished from other species due to the flat spiral pattern of the brood comb (beeswax cells where the queen bee lays her eggs). The entrance to the hives of this species typically contains resin deposits.
Tetragonula hockingsi has a more tropical distribution, with this species found the length of the Queensland coast, as well as across the top of the Northern Territory. The arrangement of the brood comb of T. hockingsi is vastly different to that of Tetragonula carbonaria, appearing as a haphazardly constructed semi-comb as opposed to the seemingly carefully constructed comb of T. carbonaria. The hive entrance typically lacks resin deposits, which helps to distinguish them from the hives of T carbonaria.
The most widespread of Australia’s stingless bees, Austroplebia australis can be found from the north coast of New South Wales, throughout the majority of Queensland, (mostly) across the northern part of the Northern Territory and into the Kimberley region in Western Australia. The entrance of the hives of this species commonly contains a small flute which is closed at the end of every day using nest material constructed in a lattice arrangement. Research has shown that the individual worker bees of this species can live for up to 240 days. This is significantly longer than the lifespan of the workers of other species, which is estimated to be 100 days.
Native stingless bees are social animals which live together in colonies. They are smaller than other species (< 4.5mm in length) and typically darkly coloured. There are three different ‘roles’ assigned to individuals in a stingless bee colony (called castes). Two of these are female, and one male. The first of these is the reproductive queen, whose sole responsibility is to lay eggs. The queen is much larger and distinctly different from the other bees.
The second role is that of the worker bee. All worker bees are female and undertake the majority of the work required both within and outside the hive. This includes the cleaning and feeding of the queen, in addition to foraging for, and collecting, pollen. The majority of bees within a hive are worker bees. Drones are the male bees, with their sole purpose being to mate with the virgin queen of another colony. However, as there is only one queen per colony, and she only mates once, this is a highly competitive position. Both the worker bees and drones are the offspring of the queen of their colony.
Bees play a critical role in sustaining healthy ecosystems and are one of the most important pollinating species, with an estimated 90% of all (global) wild flowering species depending on bees (and other pollinators). Not only do they transfer pollen between plants as part of the plant’s reproductive cycle, they are also fundamental for maintaining biodiversity, habitats and ecological processes. Additionally, pollinators such as bees are an important part of food production practices. Up to 25% of all our food and drink is thanks to the work of bees.
Fraser Coast Regional Council has installed several native stingless beehives throughout Hervey Bay. Most notably, within the Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, Community Nursery, Arkarra Lagoons and adjacent the All-Abilities Playground on the Esplanade at Pialba. A hive at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery helps to pollinate the Butchulla bush tucker garden.
Fast fact! Bees carry a weak positive electrostatic charge, which is opposite to that of the negative charge of most pollen. This helps to attract pollen to the bees, where the hairs on their bodies can trap it. Effectively, bees are like tiny magnets!
