Native Stingless Bee and Slug Herb
Published November 6, 2010 | 
Found feeding on perennial Slug Herb ( Murdannia graminea) this Native Stingless Bee, possibly Trigona carbonaria species.
Carpenter Bee and Masked Bee
Published May 18, 2010 | 
A comparison of sizes between two species of native bees. The smaller Masked Bee is 15mm long and no competition for the huge male Carpenter Bee.
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Carpenter Bee (Genus – Xylocopa ) subfamily; Xylocopinae.
Published May 18, 2010 | 
A large, robust native bee captured on Banksia flower in the bird sanctuary. Carpenter bees are a solitary bee which burrow into dead wood making tunnels. The males do not have a stinger and are important pollinators of open-faced flowers.
Native Masked Bee (Family; Colletidae ).
Published April 26, 2010 | 
There are many types of native Masked Bees. They have a distinctive yellow spot on the thorax. The bee in the image is gathering from a Banksia flower at Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge. They have a body length of 15mm. This species also displays two yellow patches on the top of the head which it uses to “face-mimic” and ward-off competition.
Poss; Native Reed Bee ( Exoneura ).
Published April 23, 2010 | 
A tiny 5mm long native bee photographed on Banksia flower in the Bird Sanctuary. Tentatively identified as a Reed Bee which nest in hollow stems, sometimes Lantana species.
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Face-Mimicry Display – Metallic Carpenter Bee. (Xylocopa (Lestis).
Published April 11, 2010 | 
Head-on image of the Metallic Carpenter Bee, displaying “face-mimicry”. A form of protection which increases a creatures chances of survival.
Metallic Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa (Lestis).
Published April 11, 2010 | 
Image taken today on Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge. These attractive native Australian bees nest in the soft wood of Banksia and Leptospermum species. They are not social insects and do not possess a sting. They nest in a single tunnel over 30cm long. They have the potential to damage exposed timber on houses. This bee also displayed “face-mimicry”.
Stingless Bee (Trigona carbonaria) Family-Apidae
Published April 11, 2010 |
Stingless Native Bee feasting in Banksia flower today. Also known as Sugar Bag Bees they are very social and usually nest in hollow logs on the wildlife refuge. About 5mm long.
Scroll image to enlarge and magnify.
Further reading; www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane/StinglessBees.htm
Blue Banded Bee ( Amegilla cingulata ) Family; Anthophoridae.
Published March 25, 2010 | 
An attractive native bee photographed near the billabong on Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge. ” They build their nests underground. Males do not build a nest. They will cluster for the night hanging from stems or leaves by their jaws.”
Reference and I.D. courtesy; http://brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_bees/BlueBandedBees.htm.
Neon Cuckoo Bee ( Thyreus nitidulus ) Family ; Anthophoridae.
Published March 24, 2010 |
Of the 1,600 Australian Native Bees the Neon Cuckoo Bee is one of the most attractive. Image taken near the billabong on Sportsman creek wildlife refuge today. The absence of legs was puzzling until I noticed it held onto the Blady grass with its jaws. “This bee does not make its own nest but lays in the nest of the Blue-banded Bee”.
Reference; http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_bees/Neon Cuckoo Bee.htm