Native Bee rescue in Brisbane. Below is a video of Native stingless bees being rescued and removed from a water meter in Brisbane. This video explains the rescue and removal process. Native stingless bee hive structure and parts are explained so you can see how they work.
The Native Stingless bees are carefully transferred to a Native bee Hive box and relocated. We keep the home owner up to date throughout the process. On occasions the Native Stingless Bees may only be in early stage of development, in these cases the bees are monitored over several weeks until strong enough to be relocated.
You are always welcome to observe the rescue of the Native stingless bees to see the process.
Please feel free to contact usat Brisbane Native Bees for help and advice on Native bee rescue and removal in Brisbane.
A video of Native stingless bees being removed from a water meter in Brisbane. Native stingless bees also known as Sugarbag bees are commonly found in water meters and irrigation boxes.
Native bees prefer to build there nest in logs and hollows of trees. With clearing of land and bush areas they need to find alternative nest sites. This is where the native bees come along to man made cavities, such as water meters.
At Brisbane Native bees we re-home the bees who find themselves in areas that are not ideal. The nest is moved to a hive box and relocated so they are no longer disturbed and will live for many years into the future. Native bees are commonly found in Brisbane and unfortunately find themselves in places that can be disturbed. Native bees found in areas such as water meters can be safely rescued and removed.
If you find these small back flying insects in your water meter or irrigation box call us at Brisbane Native Bees and we will remove safely for you.
The below video shows native stingless bee removal in Brisbane from a water meter with vacuum assistance.
Native stingless bees often find themselves in water meters throughout Brisbane. These water meters provide an ideal environment for the bees as the meter box provides temperature control and security. Unfortunately native bees are often disturbed as the water meter boxes are opened to maintain house plumbing and for the meter to be read.
The native bees can be rescued and removed safely so please do not poison or disturb the bees. Contact us at Brisbane Native bees and we will safely remove the native bees and nest material, followed by Vacuum of the remaining bees to help in supporting the new hive rebuild. On removal of the Native bees the water meter box can then be accessed for plumbing mains tap and you will be able to read your meter.
The native stingless bees are monitored and cared for following removal to ensure the colony remains viable and strong to live for many years into the future.
Feel free to contact us at Brisbane Native bees herefor everything to do with stingless native bees.
Native stingless bees removed and rescued in Brisbane during demolition of a retaining wall.
The builder and home owner were very alert and stopped works and called Brisbane Native Bees to rescue these bees. This was the first the home owner became aware of the Native stingless bees as they can be very secretive in their nesting sites.
On arrival it was noted the Stingless Native bees were well established and a large swarm bees was present due to the disturbance and demolition work. The area was assessed and the brood section of the nest was carefully transfer to a Native bee hive box. The brood section contains the queen, nurses and worker native bees.
Native stingless bees are very important to the environment. The home owner and builder went to effort is stopping works and saving these bees, which is wonderful to see.
At Brisbane Native bees we specialise in the safe removal of Native Stingless bees and provide prompt and friendly service. You can contact us here.
Why are my Native bees swarming and why do native stingless bees swarm?
A Native Bee swarm is often the first time people become aware of Native Bees as these swarms can be large and cause alarm. These swarms occur for various reasons and can last from days to weeks.
Reasons for Native Bee swarms can vary. Below are some reasons you may be seeing a Native Bee swarm in action:
Invading Native Bee Swarm
This is when a stronger colony of Native bees attempt to take over a weaker colony. Large amounts of bees can bee seen in the air. The native bees will lock together in battle and you will note hundreds of dead Native bees piled on the ground close to hive being attacked. The invading swarm of Native Bees have studied the colony they wish to invade before the takeover and they rarely fail. It is a numbers game and the invaded colony usually falls due to lack of numbers to defend. When taken over the colony and hive become a new stronger hive.
Mating Native Bee Swarm
These are Native bees coming from many outside colonies wanting to mate with a queen. These Native bees are known as Drone bees and can be found hovering and landing at the nest site which contains the virgin queen. At night the drone bees can be seen on tree branches in large clumps. A small amount of dead bees may be present.
Exploratory Native Bee Swarm
These are seen when Native bees are covering a large area searching and flying horizontally and vertically upon a surface. Often they are noted against a wall of a house. Bees can be seen landing and will often land on darker colours of the house or area they are exploring. If a suitable area is found the Native bees will then colonise that area. A Native Stingless bee exploratory swarm can go on for several weeks. If the Native bees are successful in finding a suitable location to nest the swarm will move to colonisation stage. During colonisation a large number of Native bee activity will continue to be present in setting up their new nest location.
Drifting Native Bee Swarm
This generally occurs in man made hives when the hive boxes are placed close together, especially when new hives are introduced. The returning worker bees may drift into wrong hives sending the hives into swarm . Drifting swarms will cause the Native bees to be on high alert as the hives believe they are being invaded.
Any questions on a Native Stingless bee swarm you may be witnessing you can call Brisbane Native Bees.
Native Stingless Bee swarm! Native bees are often found in Brisbane swarming which is generally an indication of a colony of Native bees close by.
Native bee swarms can be for many reasons. The swarms may be a fighting swarm, a mating swarm or simply a swarm setting up in a new found area.
Native bees swarms cause no harm to you. Native bees are stingless, you can walk through the swarm and the bees will part way around you. Native bee swarms can alarm people so education is important.
A Native Stingless Bee swarm can be present for several days to weeks, although overtime it will settle. Do not spray or attempt to break up swarm as they will persist and time will see the swarm reduce and disappear. After swarming the Native bees will continue as usual, coming and going from the hive to forage. When native bees are not swarming they rarely cause alarm and can live close by humans mostly unnoticed.
When finding a stingless Native Bee swarm at your home in Brisbane please calland feel free to discuss. If the Native bees are in an at risk area the Native bee colony may be removed, rescued and relocated safely to continue for many years into the future. Native stingless bees can swarm for various reasons, you can learn more in our information on types of Native Bee Swarms. The video below shows a Native Stingless Bee swarm in Brisbane in full action.
Removal and relocation of Native stingless bees in water meter box in Brisbane.
The video below shows a recent rescue of native stingless bees in Brisbane. On opening of meter box it was noted that the main brood egg cells were deep down in water meter.
Firstly the native bee honey pots were carefully removed aside so as not to contaminate the brood cell eggs which laid below. We worked our way through the nest locating the main native bee brood egg cell allowing safe removal.
When the Native bees were relocated to their new hive work could be completed by the plumber, as access was now safely available to the water meter mains tap.
This was a successful native bee rescue as the brood eggs were removed perfectly and the Queen bee nicely found running across her eggs in the new hive.
At Brisbane Native Bees we rescue, remove and relocated native bees at threat or disturbance. If you find these small black flying insects in Brisbane and unsure if Native Bees feel free too call Brisbane Native Bees and we may be able to assist in identifying if you wish to send a photo or video.
Useful information to help in Identification of Stingless Native bees in Brisbane.
If you find small dark black flying insects that are approximately 4-5mm long they may be Native Stingless Bees. Native Stingless bees are found throughout Brisbane.
Native stingless bees live in a colony and commonly found in in tree hollows. Due to removal of forests and natural nesting sites by humans Native stingless bees in Brisbane have needed to find alternative areas to nest. Native bees are often found in areas such as rock retaining walls, water meter boxes and other man made cavities.
Native stingless bees will be seen entering and exiting a small hole leading to the cavity. The cavity may be such as a hole in water meter or an inspection pit. You may note at certain times of year a large swarm of small black flying insects at one area which can indicate a native bee nest in close.
If you find these small black flying insects in Brisbane and unsure if Native Bees feel free to call Brisbane Native Beesand we may be able to assist in identifying if you wish to send a photo or video.
At Brisbane Native bees we safely rescue and remove Native bees that have found themselves in areas that may be disturbed or unsuitable for them. The native bees are safely given a new home and live on for many years. Native bees are important for the environment and should be protected.
Below is a video of Native bees in Brisbane entering and exiting a hive which may help you initially in Identification.
Coming into Spring with the weather warming up Native bees in Brisbane are beginning to swarm and are finding themselves in Brisbane City Council water meter boxes.
During Spring and Summer Brisbane Native stingless bees love to set up their hives in water meters. These water meters provide a dark area and a stable temperature which the bees require.
Native bees can cause issues for water meter readers as the established hive blocks access to read the meter.
Hundreds of hives are found each year in Brisbane water meters, the native bee colonies can house up to 5000 bees. The first people become aware of them is often when Queensland Urban utilities notify them of the issue.
Native bees are stingless but can swarm and bite when disturbed. These bees are important for our environment so should not be killed or sprayed. If you come across Native Stingless Bees in your water meter call us a Brisbane Native bees so they can be safely removed and relocated.
Brisbane water meter box housing a native bee hive
An example of where Brisbane native bees can find themselves. These native bees required rescue and removal to allow access to main water tap. Native bees are unfortunately often sprayed with chemical in these situations as people are unaware of what they are. In this case the homeowner was aware that they were Native bees and knew of the importance these little bees are to the environment. They called Brisbane native bees so the bees would not be destroyed.
The photos below shows the main outside water valve the native bees were in. These are difficult to remove in this situation although success was made with large brood cell removed, majority of bees captured and Queen bee recovered and placed in a new hive to ensure ongoing health. The main Brood cell and queen were 30cm deep down from surface.
If you come across Native bees in Brisbane in these situations feel free to call so as these bees can be removed and cared for to ensure survival.
