Bee Inspired
Learning about native bees and creating bee hotels
Capacity building - LEP_13_LLCNYL_02
The issue
There is a lack of understanding of the native bee species and their role in pollination. There is also potential habitat loss and preferred pollen sources.
The solution
As part of pollinator week an informative workshop was held where participants learnt facts about native solitary and stingless bees. A walk was undertaken in a local park to look for native bee activity and to learn where the most likely places to find them are.
After learning that native plants are the most suitable for native bees to feed on and collect pollen from it reiterated the fact that gardens should always include native plants. Likewise for farms the planting of native trees will also improve the options for native bee populations.
A hands on activity where everyone got to make a bee hotel they could take home with them. They consisted of using rammed earth to fill a terracotta pipe with depressions added for bees to make their home. Terracotta pipes were also filled with bamboo stalks which make an ideal home/nursery for native bees. Also, holes of various diameters were drilled into logs of wood. All three methods were easy to construct so everyone would be able to replicate these hotel structures at home.
The impact
Everyone was able to take home a bee hotel and also the knowledge of making more. Valuable insights were gained into the habitat and workings of native bees and how best to attract them to your property. Discussions about the impact of chemicals on the bee populations and how some chemicals are a lot worse than others. This is particularly important in a farming community.
Key facts
- Australia has more than 2,000 species of native bees.
- Important pollinators of native wildflowers and plants.
- Native bee species could also make a valuable contribution for crop pollination in agriculture.
- Bee hotels are easy to make.
- Solitary bees like bee hotels.
- A lot of native bees are stingless.