Interview with Alan and John Waters Today I had the pleasure to meet with two long time stingless bee keepers who happen to be brothers, Alan and John Waters. Both Alan and John keep a variety of species including Tetragonula carbonaria, Tetragonula hockingsi and Austroplebia australis. Alan and John demonstrated a vertical…
Interview with Kevin Stiller Today I met with Kevin Stiller! Kevin is a man who I can tell has a lot of native bee knowledge. He has kept honey bees for 48 years and only recently given it away. His interest with native bees however remains strong and it shows. Kevin is retired…
Interview and lessons from Allan Beil Recently Dean and I went to visit Allan Beil. We spent a couple of days learning from this very kind, helpful man. Allan is a conservationist and has helped many scientists find the information they need about native bees. If you have read a scientific article…
Native Bee Resins Other Native bee Resins (Substitutes) A conversation with John Klumpp reminded me of all the odd things I have heard native bees collect. Here is a small list of odd things: Types of bitumen based products used in waterproofing and automotive Different types of grease Paints Blue-tac Silicone-based products Resins…
Native bees robbing mother hive Recently my friend Dean was out and about and discovered a Native bee hive that was starting a new colony. There is a bit of information out there that suggests when native bees are setting up a new hive, they send out the workers,…
Interview with Russel Zable As a part of my bee journey I thought it would be nice to interview some of the bee keepers I have met along the way to not only let people learn a little about them but also get maybe some insight into the people who have the same…
FAQ about Stingless bees Dean and I decided to put together some of the common questions that we get about Stingless bees – both from new hive owners and in general. If you have additional questions, post a reply below, we would love to hear your queries and add them here. Swarms…
Tetragonula Sapiens Tetragonula Sapiens are a tropical bee that can be found in northern Queensland from Bowen to the tip of Australia. They can be viewed in some ways as a larger version of Tetragonula Clypearis. They are relatively fast builders. Tetragonula Sapiens make their nest in areas that are dark or very shaded.…
Austroplebeia Cincta Austroplebeia Cincta are considered one of Australia’s less common species of social stingless bee. Its bright yellow lines paint the bee’s dark polished body like a fancy sports car. I really like the way this bee looks. The first notable appearance of this bee since the 60’s was a photo taken…
Tetragonula Clypearis Tetragonula Clypearis are one of Australia’s smallest bees. I fell in love with this little bee at first sight. They are found all over cairns and the surrounding areas. They prefer to build in a house rather than a tree when given the option. Out of the 30 or so nests I saw…