Native stingless bees ( tetragonula carbonaria ) are native to the sub-tropics and temperate areas of Australia. As their name suggests they are stingless. They collect pollen and nectar from flowers which helps cross pollination and they make honey to feed and sustain their colony. They occur naturally in the bush and hives can be kept on farms and gardens to pollinate veggies, fruit trees and flowers. The bees only emerge from the hive if the temperature is 18 degrees or above.
The photographs below are of a native stingless bee hive being split and one hive becoming two. Hives can be split every 18 months to 2 years in temperate zones and every 12 months in sub-tropical zones. Splitting of the hive can be done between September and December and honey can be sampled to taste. The flavour of the honey will taste like the neighbouring flowers. For example if the bees have been collecting from eucalyptus flowers the honey will have a eucalyptus flavour.
Native stingless bees are a great addition to a home garden or community garden.
