Ever thought about keeping bees in your backyard?
I have and so I’ve done a bit of research into the topic of keeping backyard bees.
Because I don’t want to don a protective suit and worry about bees that sting, I’m hoping to get a hive of native bees. These little guys don’t sting at all, are less aggressive than honey bees (an imported insect) but they also do a good job of pollinating.
Apparently Trigonia carbonaria is the species of native bee recommended for Brisbane’s climate.These insects are small, approximately 4mm long and black in colour.
And stingless bees do produce a form of honey, known as sugarbag. This is a highly prized bush tucker food and it tastes quite different from honey from ‘regular’ bees. I’ve tasted some and it didn’t taste quite as sweet but had a strong, unique flavour. Native bees will produce small amounts of sugarbag, possibly up to 1 kilogram each year.
You don’t need to register native bee hives as you do other hives and I’m sure native bees won’t cause any concerns or complaints from neighbours as could be the case with stinging bees.
A friend of mine has a native bee hive in her backyard and it is simply a hollow log. You would hardly know it's a bee hive although you can see the little critters flying in and out, if you watch closely.
But where to get native bees in Brisbane?
Incredibly, I could order a hive online and have it delivered to me. A hive of bees in a custom built hive costs from $350 - $450.
Hunt down more information from:
- Native bee expert Dr Tim Heard. He sells hives and bees and also hosts occasional workshops.
- Bob the Bee Man will rescue and relocate native bee hives, if you happen to disturb one.
- Buy a hive online from City Chicks.
If you’ve already got native bees, I’d love you to share your suggestions and tips. Are they easy to look after? Have you had any problems?
