Nida Zawawi presents results on the composition of stingless bee honeys from Australia and Malaysia. From the thin fluidity and acidity of stingless bee honeys, she predicted that the composition and properties would be different from European bee honey. facebook.com/sugarbagbees/p…

If you keep stingless bees in cool areas, then your hive may show no external signs of activity in winter. Do not fear, the bees will be OK inside the hive. E.g. carbonaria bees in Australia do not forage until the temperature reaches 18C. facebook.com/sugarbagbees/p…

Size of the population of a nest of stingless bees is an important factor in surviving cold weather. A populous colony, like this one, will generate more metabolic heat, which will help to keep the bees cosy inside. facebook.com/sugarbagbees/v…

Will varroa mite affect native bees? Varroa is a threat only to Apis honey bees; it breeds only in their hives and will not attack other bee species. Its biology is closely tuned to its host making it very unlikely to switch its host range to native bees facebook.com/sugarbagbees/i…

Comparing stingless bees and honey bees for berry pollination. And how to reduce drift fighting between hives using coloured markers. abc.net.au/news/rural/201…

John Pallet keeps his carbonaria stingless bees in SE Queensland. He splits his hives in winter with great success. His rationale is that there are fewer pest around at this time of year. Thanks John, for proving an alternative to conventional wisdom. facebook.com/sugarbagbees/p…

Varroa mite is a threat only to Apis honey bees; it breeds only in their hives and will not attack other bee species. It has co-existed with many species of native bees for thousands of years in SE Asia, with no reported cases of the mite using other bees. flickr.com/photos/sanmart…

Insects are not the only pollinators. Excluding vertebrates from plants that are visited by both insects and vertebrate pollinators reduces fruit set. Ratto et al. 2018 Global importance of vertebrate pollinators for plant reproductive success: A meta-analysis. Front Ecol Env.

Visit from the talented Shane Christensen, wood carver whose works house stingless bees. We coupled “Battle of the bees” to a strong hive to bud into this castle hive boxhttps://www.facebook.com/sugarbagbees/photos/a.793375797348542/2539310262755078/?type=3&theater

Stingless bee egg laying. See how quickly the queen deposits an egg in the cell of this carbonaria stingless bee nest. Worker bees take hours to construct and provision a new cell but the queen lays an egg, which is visible in the cell, in a flash. facebook.com/sugarbagbees/v…

Details of the 2nd Australian Native Bee Conference released (Brisbane 7-9 Dec). three days of speakers, trade shows, a field trip and a hive exhibition. Register by 13 Oct for Early-bee discounts. To register, and find out more, go to: australiannativebeeconference.com.au

The Australian Native Bee Conference is on again this year! 5–7 December 2019, at The University of Queensland, Brisbane. Hosted by the Australian Native Bee Association. This year the conference is over three days. It will be awesome! australiannativebeeconference.com.au #bees #ozpollinators

Honey bee pathogen infects Australian stingless bees.

In this recent study, bees are shown to be omnivores that derive much of their nutrition not just from pollen and nectar but from the abundant microbial communities which feed on the pollen before it is consumed by bee larvae. (Steffan, et al. Am. Nat. 2019. Vol. 194, pp 414–421.

The joy of a beautiful advancing front of carbonaria stingless bee brood comb does not dull with repetition. facebook.com/sugarbagbees/v…

Can Australian native stingless bees contract deformed wing virus (DWV)? DWV does not occur in Australia, but could arrive with its main vector, the varroa mite. This important research will help Australia prepare for this probable biosecurity incursion. facebook.com/sugarbagbees/p…

Honey pots through the glass sides of a stingless bee observation hive. For scale the bees are 4 mm long.

Tetragonula hockingsi are great defenders. When honeybees try to steal honey from an open nest cavity, these awesome little stingless bees know just where to attack and how to avoid stings. Footage via Terry Stevens from Hervey Bay. ⁦Dr Tobias Smith⁩ ⁦Sugarbag Bees⁩

Austroplebeia australis stingless bees protect the nest entrance with a resinous curtain that they put up each night and take down again the next morning