Dr Tim Heard.
Native bees are important for pollinating native plants.
Our aim is to increase the number of species available for this purpose. Using a native bee species for crop pollination and as a source of food is also a positive move for the bees, as clearing bush for farming has caused them to vanish from many areas. Our native stingless bees are low maintenance and are especially suited to family life in the suburbs. They have an affection and affinity with these attractive creatures, and are now finding that stingless bees can be kept in hives and can be propagated. Dr Anne Dollin have recently completed a review of native beekeeping in Australia, which will provide a valuable historical baseline for this rapidly expanding industry.