Australian Native Bees

[John53]

I was out in the backyard and some onions have gone to seed, the flowers are attracting native bees. I'm not sure what type as there are many different native bees. They are only small, maybe 3 or 4mm long.

 

[John53]

This is a size comparison between the native bee and a honey bee.

 

[John53]

I think these are hover flies, I've been told they're also pollinators. @Dan From Smithville might know.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Are they stingless?

 

[exchemist]

I think these are hover flies, I've been told they're also pollinators. @Dan From Smithville might know.

View attachment 65782
View attachment 65783

Yes the last ones, with the flattened abdomen and big eyes, are definitely hoverflies.

I remember very tiny bees from my time in Arabia, on the West coast of the UAE. They weren’t black, though. I suppose there must be hundreds of species of bees.

Beautiful photos, by the way.

 

[John53]

Are they stingless?

Yep. They make good pets apparently, easy to look after and you get about 1 litre of honey a year from a hive.

 

[exchemist]

Yep. They make good pets apparently, easy to look after and you get about 1 litre of honey a year from a hive.

That must be a first for Australia, then : an arthropod that isn’t out to get you!