Tiny but mighty

Scientist and children’s author Shane Meyer shared some fascinating facts, photos, and videos about these remarkable insects and the plants they depend on for survival.

Here’s what we discovered about native bees:

🐝 They are attracted to yellow and purple flowers but have trouble seeing red

🐝 70% of them nest in the ground

🐝 Most native bees are solitary

🐝 Female bees have stingers, while males do not

🐝 They come in a wide range of sizes and species

🐝 Native bees can beat their heads against flowers at an astonishing rate of 320 times per second to dislodge and collect pollen—making them far more efficient than honeybees

Some native bee species even have fun nicknames, such as “teddy bear bees,” “leafeater bees,” “cuckoo bees,” “masked bees,” and “reed bees.”

What can we do to help these essential pollinators thrive?

👍 Install specially designed ‘bee hotels

👍 Leave patches of dirt in our gardens for nesting sites

👍 Plant a variety of native plants that flower throughout the year

👍 Read more and learn about native bees and butterflies

👍Spread the word and encourage others to help too

A big thank you, Shane for your insightful and engaging presentation! Based on the many questions asked, it's clear that you’ve inspired many to take action in supporting our native pollinators.

We’d also like to thank Second Nature Conservancy and Green Adelaide for making this event possible.