It’s what scientists don’t know about native Australian bees that has them deeply concerned.

roughbarked said:

It’s what scientists don’t know about native Australian bees that has them deeply concerned.

Interesting article. Strange that these bees should be so little studied.

I should think the stingless honey bees are doing OK (they are in our backyard anyway), but perhaps we should be providing a home for some rarer ones as well.

Having spent a few years photographing invertebrates in the Esperance region I can say there seems to be very few in this region, although I doubt if that is how it should be due to the high diversity of native vegetation, but like the article says there is so little known about them, plus I must admit they did not rate highly on my curiosity scale.

There certainly needs to be more information readily available in simple terms to encourage non-professionals to get involved. It is tragic that many native plant species are likely dependent upon these insects and any major depletion of them would be placing them at risk too.

Some of them are solitary and only a couple of millimetres so you might not see them.

We have a “Bee Guy,” who is at once hilarious and entertaining. I have to find his documentation. That might interest someone.

The Rev Dodgson said:

roughbarked said:

It’s what scientists don’t know about native Australian bees that has them deeply concerned.

Interesting article. Strange that these bees should be so little studied.

I should think the stingless honey bees are doing OK (they are in our backyard anyway), but perhaps we should be providing a home for some rarer ones as well.

Providing their food is always the way.

I think we should switch to honeywasps to avoid european honeybees impacting the native bees.

PermeateFree said:

Having spent a few years photographing invertebrates in the Esperance region I can say there seems to be very few in this region, although I doubt if that is how it should be due to the high diversity of native vegetation, but like the article says there is so little known about them, plus I must admit they did not rate highly on my curiosity scale.

There certainly needs to be more information readily available in simple terms to encourage non-professionals to get involved. It is tragic that many native plant species are likely dependent upon these insects and any major depletion of them would be placing them at risk too.

It would put the others in the ecosystem to suffer. Yes.

ScarlettaPimpernella said:

Some of them are solitary and only a couple of millimetres so you might not see them.

We have a “Bee Guy,” who is at once hilarious and entertaining. I have to find his documentation. That might interest someone.

It surely will.

Those Bee Orientated Folks roam freely. I was amazed to learn that Australia has 1500 species of bees.

ScarlettaPimpernella said:

Those Bee Orientated Folks roam freely. I was amazed to learn that Australia has 1500 species of bees.

and could be more.

dv said:

I think we should switch to honeywasps to avoid european honeybees impacting the native bees.

Cuchii on toast.. Mmmmm

Warning¡

Don’t search.. “how to eat cuchii”

dv said:

I think we should switch to honeywasps to avoid european honeybees impacting the native bees.

Brachygastra?
So how are you going to placate them and allow you to extract the honey?

Ian said:

Warning¡

Don’t search.. “how to eat cuchii”

now you are only tempting me.

Ian said:

Warning¡

Don’t search.. “how to eat cuchii”

Does eating cuchii break a fast?

roughbarked said:

dv said:

I think we should switch to honeywasps to avoid european honeybees impacting the native bees.

Brachygastra?
So how are you going to placate them and allow you to extract the honey?

Drones

seriously though we thought native and european apis operated somewhat different niches anyway

dv said:

roughbarked said:

dv said:

I think we should switch to honeywasps to avoid european honeybees impacting the native bees.

Brachygastra?
So how are you going to placate them and allow you to extract the honey?

Drones

:)

SCIENCE said:

seriously though we thought native and european apis operated somewhat different niches anyway

Many of the native bees are very specialised and would possibly not be impacted by introduced bees. However, the methods of pollination and the collection of nectar and pollen would be very similar, so some adverse competition would likely occur to similar species, but it is more the good pollination of certain native plants that is the real problem because of evolved narrow tubular flowers the introduced bee will chew a hole at the base to access the nectar, but will thereby avoid the sexual organs and not, or poorly fertilise the plant.

SCIENCE said:

seriously though we thought native and european apis operated somewhat different niches anyway

A. mellifera is taking much from the mouths of the natives.
Other than that, yes. However, this was not what the topic was.

PermeateFree said:

SCIENCE said:

seriously though we thought native and european apis operated somewhat different niches anyway

Many of the native bees are very specialised and would possibly not be impacted by introduced bees. However, the methods of pollination and the collection of nectar and pollen would be very similar, so some adverse competition would likely occur to similar species, but it is more the good pollination of certain native plants that is the real problem because of evolved narrow tubular flowers the introduced bee will chew a hole at the base to access the nectar, but will thereby avoid the sexual organs and not, or poorly fertilise the plant.

This is the major part of the problem. Apart from competition for nectar and pollen.