Native Bees of the Sydney Region - A Field Guide

Australian Native Bee Research Centre

Dr. Anne Dollin

Native bees are valuable pollinators of our Australian bushland. Fascinating reports of specialised relationships between flowers and native bees are slowly emerging, but more research is urgently needed. So little is known of the behaviour, nesting habits and distribution of many native bee species; yet land clearing and habitat loss continue daily. The observations that Society for Growing Australian Plants members make in their gardens and local bushland is of great help!

Until recently, little information was available to assist the plant enthusiast to identify these fascinating species, but now Australia's first ever field guide to native bees is out! "Native Bees of the Sydney Region - A Field Guide" describes 31 of the most easily-recognised native bees found in Sydney, 26 of which are also found in Queensland. A suggested common name, full description and colour photographs are given for each bee, as well as details of its flower preferences and known nesting habits.

Field Observation Sheets in the back of the Guide allow readers to report their native bee observations. This information will be used to help unravel the many remaining mysteries about Australian native bees!

Other chapters in the Guide describe plants loved by native bees and artificial nests which cam be placed in the garden to support native bees. Tips on recognising and observing native bees in the bush are also given, as well as a pronunciation guide, glossary and index. The book also features a foreword by environmentalist Eric Rolls.

Have you seen Banksia Bees on your bushwalks? Does the Fire-tailed Resin Bee visit your garden, or the increasingly-scarce Peacock Carpenter Bee? It is hoped this new field guide will help plant lovers explore, enjoy and protect Australia's little-known but remarkable native bee species.

This practical paperback guide, in a convenient A5 size for field use, has 72 pages of text and black and white illustrations, and eight pages of colour plates.

To order a copy of "Native Bees of the Sydney Region - A Field Guide", contact:

Australian Native Bee Research Centre

P.O. Box 74-P1

North Richmond. NSW. 2754.

Or visit the Aussie Bee website at http://www.zeta.org.au/~anbra/

Drawing by Martyn Robinson from "Native Bees of the Sydney Region - A Field Guide".

Bundles of bamboo canes can provide nest sites for resin bees and leafcutters.