Blue-banded Bee

## About

A female blue-banded bee in flight.

The blue-banded bee ***(Amegilla cingulata)*** also called the common blue bee, is a species of bee endemic across mainland Australia except for the Northern Territory. Blue-banded bees are characterised by their reddish-yellow and grey body hairs, green eyes and their blue bands or stripes which give the bee species its name. These bands are iridescent and their colours are caused by sunlight reflection. Males of the species are known to have one more band present on their abdomen than females, having five instead of four. Blue-banded bees do possess a stinger on their abdomens however, they are not as aggressive as other bee species and will not attack unprovoked. Blue-banded bees measure to a length of 8-14mm (0.31-0.55in).

## Diet

    Blue-banded bees consume the nectar of a variety of native Australian flower species, including but not limited to; yellow guinea flowers, the native lasiandra and many cigar plants. According to the Land For Wildlife, blue-banded bees are also crucial pollinators to plants like basil and chili, and they may even be valuable pollinators of greenhouse tomatoes.

### Conservation Status

Blue-banded bees are classed as not evaluated as they have not been assessed by the IUCN. Blue-banded bees are however, quite common throughout Australia and in particular in warmer climates like that of Queensland. Blue-banded bees are thought to have a large population that is not in any particular danger by humans

## Range and Population

Blue-banded bees inhabit environments across northern Australia and are noticeably absent from the Northern Territory. Here, the bees live in many different environments such as wooded forests and heath, but are found most prolific in urban areas and gardens. The exact population of the blue-banded bee is unknown but is most likely in a stable state. Due to blue-banded bees not assessed by the IUCN so there is no official distribution map.

## Behaviour

    Blue-banded bees act very differently from other more commonly known species such as European honey bees ***(Apis mellifera)***, most notably they do not exhibit eusocial behaviour. Blue-banded bees are solitary insects that do not live in large hives, they also do not have queens. Depending on the sex of a blue-banded bee they will act vastly differently, with males living and roosting with small groups, whereas females live alone underground. Female blue-banded bees are known to burrow into soft soils or sands in order to nests, more often than not female blue-banded bees will nest in areas where other females have previously nested. Before laying their eggs female, blue-banded bees will create waterproof cells in their nests out of secretions. These cells will act as 'rooms' for their eggs which will eventually become bee larvae. Male blue-banded bees on the other hand, have no part in parenting as the species is polygamous. Males will usually congregate in small groups in forested areas in the evenings. Often they will also roost near each other at night. Once another male arrives to these gatherings the others will greet him by vibrating their wings and abdomens.

### Relationship with Humans

Blue-banded bees are unlike other native bees in that they will not act aggressively to humans. This is mostly because there is no need for an instinctive behaviour towards humans, as they live alone. Bees have a reputation to be extremely aggressive, this is mostly because most bees live eusocially and have evolved this behaviour in order to protect their nests.

## In Captivity

    No zoos presently exhibit blue-banded bees however, blue-banded bees are sometimes kept in small scale bee farms. In these bee farms they are often kept in bee nesting blocks.

## Sources

* Common Blue-Banded Bee | Land For Wildlife - https://www.lfwseq.org.au/blue-banded-bee/
* Blue-Banded Bee | Busy Beekeeping - https://busybeekeeping.com/11-interesting-facts-about-blue-banded-bees/