We have just completed a solid weekend of activities that started on Friday November 11. Tim Heard and Mandy Sapper were inter-viewed on ABC Far North radio on the subject of native bees. Their switchboard lit up with listeners wanting to ask questions and share experiences of native bees in the Cairns region. It was …
Our branch had the privilege of having Dr Tim Heard present a full day workshop at Mission Beach, this month. Tim delivered his informative presentation on all things to do with bees including an insightful practical session. There were lots of interesting questions, discussion points and observations from the audience throughout the day. We noted …
Wide Bay branch newsStingless bee hive placed at Thabeban State School In early November, the Wide Bay Branch of the Australian Native Bee Association presented Thabeban State School in Bundaberg with a colony of Tetragonula Hockingsi stingless bees. Committee members Trevor Galletly, Stephan Curran and Brendan Macpherson attended the handing over of the hive. Trevor …
Coffs branch held an afternoon event on Sunday 20th November which we also zoomed out to members unable to attend in person. We opened a hive that had come down from Armidale to over-winter on the Coast. The hive was identified as a T. hockingsi, a species from Queensland that often struggles south of its …
So much happening this past month and unfortunately a couple of my hives have suffered from the dreaded Hive Phorid fly which I am now calling “Horrid Fly”, most likely from lack of attention on my part. Interestingly one of these hives was the one I had connected a water meter rescue up to for …
Report of the November MeetingBranch chair Dean was unwell, so Tim chaired this meeting. We honoured the traditional owners and custodians of Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people. Tim welcomed those here in person (42) and those attending by Zoom (22). Our guest speaker was Sarah Hamilton. Sarah is the owner of Bee Yourself and …
While we in Australia wait for the results of our submission to have our Native Bee Honey accepted as a stand-ard food, research is ongoing around the world. Anyone who has tried stingless bee honey are aware of the sharp sour or tart taste. Our taste buds are reacting to the organic acids in the …
Nurseries are where most of us acquire plants for our gardens, but evidence for which plants, and features of these plants, should be selected to create a pollinator garden, is often unavailable. To fill this lacuna, Dr Kit Prendergast – the Bee Babette – conducted standardised snapshot pollinator observations at Zanthorrea Nursery, Western Australia, over …
Update on the ANBA Varroa Response Programby Anne Dollin Chair of the ANBA Varroa Response SubcommitteeThe NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is now actively using the toxic pesticide, Fipronil, to bait feral European honeybees in most of their Varroa Mite Red Zones, including parts of Newcastle. To see which areas currently being baited, visit: …
Update on the ANBA Varroa Response Program – Jan 23 Read More »
Associate Professor Lori Lach from James Cook University, Cairns, has won the biennial Ian Mackerras Medal from the Australian Entomological Society., https://www.austentsoc.org.au/awards/the-ian-mackerras-medal/ Lori’s work on native bees includes studies on pathogen, insecticides and climate change. Congratulations Lori! Her published work includes the well-received book “Ant Ecology” where she was the senior editor. Much of her …
The launch of this wonderful new book was held in Pollinator Week on 12 November in the National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. The event was well attended and the high level of interest in the book is encouraging. Unfortunately the spring weather here which has been less than ideal for native bee spotting!Further details on …
Book Launch – Native bees of the ACT and NSW South Coast. A spotter’s guide Read More »
Native bees of the ACT and NSW South Coast. A spotter’s guideBy Peter Abbott,Published by peterabbott@iinet.net.au2022, 127 pp. Online price $30.ISBN 978-0-646-86911-7 Review by Michael Batley Bee spotters! What a great name for such an important body of scientific expertise. As I sat down to write this, I received an e-mail containing evidence that extends …
Native bees of the ACT and NSW South Coast. A spotter’s guide Read More »
