Botanic Gardens a-buzz with stingless native bees

Environment Portfolio and Division 12 Councillor Tony Wellington is pleased that Sunshine Coast Council has decided to rehouse a hive of stingless native bees within Noosa Botanic Gardens.

Cr Wellington said the native bee hive had been identified in a severely decayed Bribie Island Pine tree at Boreen Point.

“Council officers had identified the tree as a high risk of failure and thus requiring removal,” he said.

“Although the tree had to go, the bees could be rescued. On Thursday they will begin their new life near Lake Macdonald in the Noosa Botanic Gardens.

“Thousands of native bee nests are destroyed every year due to poor understanding of their value and ecological role.

“Australian native bees are responsible for pollinating many of the plants in our parks and reserves as well as the home garden.

“Of more than 1500 native bees in Australia, only 10 species form nests and colonies. All the other species are solitary creatures. Those that do live in communities, such as the bees being relocated to the Noosa Botanic Gardens, are stingless and pose no risk to humans.

“Native bees are important contributors to our natural systems. The decision to translocate this hive acknowledges the role that nature plays in the longevity of all species - humans included!”