Follow the journey of Lovely and discover the wonders and workings of our Australian native bees.

Lovely…A Story About A Stingless Bee available to purchase at:

https://sydneystinglessbees.com.au/product/lovely-a-story-about-a-stingless-bee/

Melissa Ballantyne has been working with native bees only a relatively short time but her love and passion for the little bees has seen her create several native bee documentaries including one at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. When many Australians think of bees they think of the black and yellow striped variety. But there are other tiny warriors out there native to Australia. Now Melissa is on a mission to educate, inspire, excite and create awareness to the young and old about the importance and magic of Australian native bees.

Illustrator – Deanna Bresnehan Deanna is a freelance illustrator, with a number of published books and resources in Early Childhood Literacy. She has illustrated these beautiful Native Stingless Bee images using the mixed media of: pastels, watercolour, acrylic, and ink to capture the vivid colours, depth and detail.

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Native bees in Brisbane live in colonies and require safe enclosed areas to set up their Native bee colony. In Brisbane, native bees are often found in water meters and irrigation pits. Junction boxes are also used by Native bees and these are installed around home that have chemical reticulation for termites. Native bees in Brisbane often come and decided to set up in these reticulation boxes which isn’t the best for when a Pest controller needs to pump chemical into the system.

At Brisbane Native bees we remove and rescue Native stingless bees from areas that they are likely to be disturbed. Native bees are small black insect that can be found when opening a water meter or irrigation lid or the Native bees may be noticed when swarming around the area they are nesting.

When Native bees are located in a water meter of irrigation pit the lid should be replaced so as not to further disturb the Native Bees and you can call us at Brisbane Native Bees and we will be able to safely remove and relocated the at risk Native Bees. The Native bees are then monitored over several months to ensure the survival of the relocated colony.

For all Native bee removal and relocation contact us at Brisbane Native bees.

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A list of easily found plant varieties in Brisbane for attracting Native Bees to your garden. Native bees are found throughout Brisbane and vital for the environment. Native bees are active throughout the year and what better way to attract them to your garden by planting Native Bee friendly flowing plants.

Native Bee attracting and friendly plants for your Garden.

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstoemia indica)

Crepe myrtle is a flowering tree that can be heavily pruned and grown as a shrub or around 3 meters height. Crepe Myrtle flowers are ruffled with crepe like texture. In Autumn the green leave turn yellow , orange or red. Crepe Myrtle plants are perfect for Native Bees in Brisbane.

Bottlebrush (Callistemon)

Bottlebrush is a hardy Australian shrub or small tree that features a distinctive flower head. Native Bottlebrush shrubs produce pollen and nectar rich flowers that Native bees in Brisbane would love in your garden.

Citrus plants

Citrus fruit trees are readily available I Brisbane and Native Bees love them. Citrus trees can will produce fruit and the Native bees you have attracted to your garden will pollinate them foryou rewarding you with big healthy crops.

Grevillea (spider flowers)

These Australian native garden plants range in size from small to large trees. Grevillea bloom for several months in Brisbane producing striking pink and yellow flowers that resemble a brush. No matter the size of your garden you will find a suitable Grevillea plant that will attract native bees your garden.

Melaleuca (honey Myrtle)

Melaleuca range in size from small shrubs to small trees. They produce flowers that Native bees in Brisbane will happily come to your garden form there pollen and nectar.

Abelia x grandiflora

Abeila is a compact, low growing shrub that can be grown in Brisbane to attract Native Bees to your garden. It flowers around December providing good nectar and pollen for Native bees in your area when many wildflowers are not flowering.

For more information on Native bees and Stingless Native bees see our  identification page or Contact us.

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The video below shows location and removal of Native bees that were located by the homeowner in stored witches hat in their front yard. The Native bees have set up in the witches hat and formed a colony within.

Native bees are found throughout Brisbane and often located in Brisbane City Council water meters. The Native bees require a cavity protected from the elements and water meters offer this protection. Native bees are also found in upturned plant pots, garden ornaments, brick walls of homes and other fixed items that provide a cavity of suitable size and protected from the rain and sun.

Native bees are small flying Black insects and can be found swarming around the area they are nesting in. Native bees often go unnoticed as the quietly go in and out of the water meter or as in this case a witches hat. Native bees will often swarm, during these swarm masses of bees are in the air forming a black cloud and this is when you are likely to first notice that you have located a native bee nest.

At Brisbane Native bees we can help in relocation and removal of Native stingless bees that you may find at or around your home. You can contact us at anytime for guidance and assistance for any Native bees that may need safe relocation.

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In Brisbane Native bees are found naturally in hollows of trees and rock retaining walls in nature. Issues occur when they seek alternative nesting sites such as Urban Utility water meters. Native bees are attracted to these water meters due to the colour and perfect environment and size to regulate temperate for their hive.

Native bees are important to the environment and when found in Urban Utility water meters should not be disturbed as can be safely removed and relocated to preserve the Native Bees. Native bees in water meters are and issue as access to tap to turn off water is blocked by the hive workings and the meter cannot be read as the Native bees build over the water meter window.

You will notice the Native Bees as small black flying insects that will be seen entering and exiting the hole in the water meter lid. The native bees will also sometimes be noted in large swarms near the water meter.

At Brisbane Native bees we can safely rescue and relocate Native bees found in Urban Utilities water meters. The bees are relocated to a hive box and removed from site. The water meter should be monitored over time as occasionally the Native bees can return or rebuild.

Contact us for advice and service when you find Native bees in an Urban Utility water meter and we will be happy to offer assistance.

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Native stingless Bees in brickwork of a brick veneer home in Brisbane.

A Colony of native bees have set up in house brickwork via a weep hole and have been there for some time. The homeowner called as the native bees have recently been swarming.

In order to completely remove native bees from a situation where they are in brickwork, invasive and work is required to remove the native bee colony. This can involve removal of brickwork or internal plaster.

In this situation an initial Native Stingless bee eduction will be made at entry point. The eduction method will duplicate the Native bees and over time a second colony will form in the log or hive box connected to the main mother hive. In this situation the mother colony will most likely remain although the current swarming may settle due to the native bees performing work on new found space.

For all Native Stingless Bee Rescue and Removal in Brisbane Contact us at Brisbane Native Bees.

Below is a video showing the Eduction method of Native Bess being used at this home in Brisbane.

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Energex often replace timber power poles due to rot and termites and the Energex team are well aware of other fauna and flora that can take up residence in their power poles. This power pole was in need or replacement due to rot and Brett from Energex assessed pole prior to removal and contacted us at Brisbane Native Bees to assist in the rescue and relocation of the native bees.

The power pole was in Spring hill Brisbane and Callum from Energex was given the task with his team to carefully remove pole housing the Native Stingless Bees. Power was disconnected and cranes used to remove the pole followed by Callum on the chainsaw.

The Native stinglees bees will now be relocated and live happily in the remains of the power pole for many years into the future.

Thanks to Brett, Callum and the Energex team for looking out for wildlife during works and Brisbane Native Bees look forward to working together with Energex into the future.

For All Native Stingless Bee Rescue and Removal in Brisbane Contact us at Brisbane Native Bees.

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Native Bee Hives can be split to form a second hive from the main mother native bee hive. Splitting of native bee hives is very successful although there are some risks involved such as failure of a hive to re-queen or pest invasion. At Brisbane Native bees our success rate with hive splitting and native bee hive duplication has proved to be very successful.

An alternative method of duplication of Naive Stingless bee Hives is known as the Eduction method. This is where the Mother native bee hove is connected to an empty hive. Overtime the native bees may form a new hive in the attached hive box. More information on Native bee Eduction is available on our website.

Brisbane Native Bees also offer Native Stingless Bees for Sale in Brisbane. Information on our Native Bee Hives for sale are available here.

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A Native stingless bee Vacuum is used to assist in rescues of Native Bees from damaged Logs and water meters. When rescuing and relocating Native bees it is important to obtain as many workers as possible to help in rebuild of the Native bee Hive after relocation.

At Brisbane Native Bees we use a Native Bee Vacuum to assist in the rescue and relocation of Native bees.

Low suction is required to Vacuum Native bees so they are not harmed. Once Vacuum of the Native bees begins the process in fairly fast and the results excellent.

To make a Native bee Vacuum similar to the ones we use you need:

– 12 Volt Air bed pump from Ebay or camping stores.

– Jar or Canister with wooden lid for drilling available from Kmart or Kitchen shops.

-Small amount of Fly Screen

– Pope 19mm x 13mm Barbed reducing joiner available from Bunnings, (Cut 13mm Barb off as this end goes into hole drilled into timber lid of jar) or design similar joiner to your liking.

– Pope 13mm Joiner from Bunnings, (Cut one barb off as one side goes into hole drilled into timber lid Jar.)

-13mm clear vinyl Tubing from Bunnings.

– Drill bit for holes in timber lid.

-12 Volt Battery for power, we use 7AH or 9AH AGM batteries.

Put all items together as per attached photos, silicone can be used to secure fly screen and silicone/glue Vacuum to 19mm pope barbed end. The attached video also shows in use.

At Brisbane Native bees we do Native Stingless bee rescues and removal throughout Brisbane. You can contact us direct for all things Native Bees.

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Native stingless bees in Brisbane often find themselves in water meters. Over time the bees fill the water meter making it impossible to read the meter or gain access to the tap.  In these situations the Native bees are rescued and relocated from the Brisbane Water meter to a man made hive.

On occasions at Brisbane Native bees we rescue and relocate the Native bees to a natural hollow log hive. These natural logs provide excellent insulation,  a hollow log is more natural for the bees and we are sure they appreciate their new home which is now secure and safe.

The new native bee log hive is weighed at time of rescue and weight noted so as progress and health of hive can be assessed by weight over time.  A clear see through panel is also placed under the removable lid of the log  so as it can removed and progress of the Native bees viewed through panel.

As the Native Stingless bees settle into there new home they seal any gaps in the top and bottom of log to prevent predator entry. Sticky tape is used initially to help seal up any gaps whilst the Native bees get to work in their new home repairing and sealing up any gaps. When the Native bees are established the tape is removed. The Native bees are now protected from the elements and from disturbance and live well into the future.

Should you require safe rescue and removal of Native bees in Brisbane, please contact us direct at Brisbane Native Bees.

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