The following information was copied from the ABC Natuve Bee Fact sheet in relation to the Australian Native Bee Research Centre at Kurrajong, NSW.
"In Australia we have about 2000 species of native bees, but only 10 of
these are social bees with a queen, drones and workers, like the honey
bees. These social native bees are stingless, and live in colonies of up
to many 1000s in such places as hollow trees. They are 3 - 4 mm long
and look like small flies. All our other native bee species are solitary
and do not have a social colony structure. Each solitary female builds
an individual nest for her offspring. While solitary bees do not store
excess honey in their nests, they play an important role in the bush as
pollinators.
The stingless social bees are tropical bees and
thrive in the northern states of Australia. It is possible to transfer
these colonies into boxes, like hives, in which they are more easily
managed. The brood comb, containing the eggs, is often formed in a
beautiful spiral and it is possible to extract a little bush honey from
the clusters of honey pots.
...Native bees are specific in the types of food they require, so Anne and
Les provide different groups of native plant species to nourish them for
the longest possible period. But while the bees like eucalypts,
grevilleas, callistemon and melaleucas, they also like non-native plants
like roses, abelias and daisies, so the home garden can support native
bee populations quite easily. It is, of course, very important not to
use insecticide in the garden".
You can buy Native Bee hives from a range of people - try Steve's Native Bees at
http://www.stevesnativebees.com.au/
Also check out Amazing Bees at
http://www.amazingbees.com.au/bee-colonies.html
