Australian Native Stingless Bees

Well, it's not entirely what we orginally planned... although we've always wanted to get some Australian Native Stingless bees... we just thought we'd get our European Honey Bees first.

Now I have it on good authority that both will live happily in our garden - provided there is enough food for them - which I'm sure there is. And I've already observed both native and introduced bees co-habitating and co-feeding on our vegetable, herb and flower crops.

So introducing The Trigs - Trigona carbonaria - native stingless bees.

We picked them up late in the evening and sealed the hole with some gauze for the trip home.

We fitted the hive to a pre-prepared star picket with a bracket attached - and in the morning we removed the gauze and they took off and spent the day working - settling in very nicely.

We've positioned their hive under a mango tree where it will get morning sun, but good protection from afternoon sun.

Like with honey bees, keeping the hive cool is a priority. And, like honey bees they don't like being moved, so put them in the right place first time.

Here is a close of up of their tiny entrance door to their hive. They are only the size of ants - tiny.

Another shot of them hard at work.

They quickly made themselves at home.

Our hive is an OATH design - an Original Australian Trigona Hive. It is able to be split too, so this hive can be propagated.

We look forward to learning more about these interesting little creatures and about bees in general. They are quite fascinating to watch and I can much time spent just watching and observing and trying to work out what it is they are doing.

Cheers,

Sonya