• There are over 1,500 species of Australian native bees.
• Not all bees are yellow. Native bees can be many different colours, including black, yellow, red metallic green or even black with blue polka dots!
• Commercial honey bees (Apis mellifera) are not native to Australia. They were introduced from Europe in about 1822.

• The smallest bee native to Australia, the Quasihesma bee found in Cape York, is less than 2mm long!
• Not all bees are furry and fat. Some native bees are sleek and shiny.
• A single honey bee may collect 1/12 teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.

• Not all bees can sting. Ten species of Australian native bees are stingless. Stingless beekeeping is becoming very popular due to the delicious honey produced, great crop pollination and no stings of course!
• Pure honey was found in 2,000 year-old Egyptian pyramids, and was still edible.
• Male bees are called drones and they are very lazy. They do not work.

For more information about bee keeping, contact your local bee keeping association:
Native Stingless and Solitary Bees
