Native Bees

Overview

Most of us are familiar with the introduced European honey bee (Apis mellifera) yet are unaware of the great diversity of the more than 1,500 species of native bees found throughout Australia. Most of these species are solitary, making their nests in burrows in the ground or in small hollows in dead wood; however, 11 stingless species from tropical and sub-tropical Australia are social, making “sugarbag” honey in tree hollows. Native bees are important pollinators of native flora and a vital part of the country’s biodiversity. The conservation challenges faced by Australia’s native bees include habitat destruction and fragmentation as well as climate change.

This stamp issue, illustrated by artist Kevin Stead, depicts representatives from the four main native bee families in Australia. These four bees vary in length between one and two centimetres.

Look back at more insects on stamps in our blog article.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 14-May-2019
Issue withdrawal date: 30-November-2019
Denomination: 4 x $1
Stamp and products illustration: Kevin Stead
Product design: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell
Paper: self-adhesive: Securepost MC90
Printer: RA Printing
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size (mm): 37.5 x 26
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Module of 50
FDI Postmark: Werribee, Vic 3030
FDI withdrawal date: 12-June-2019

Stamps in this issue

$1 - Resin Bee (Megachile macleayi)

The Resin Bee, from the family Megachilidae, builds its nest in a narrow holes in timber, constructing the nest and sealing the entrance with gums and resins it collects from leaves and plants. This solitary bee, which is found across northern Australia, prefers nectar from legume flowers.

$1 - Green and Gold Nomia Bee (Lipotriches australica)

From the family Halictidae and found throughout eastern Australia, the solitary Green and Gold Nomia Bee nests in the ground. After looking for mates and foraging for nectar during the day, clusters of numerous male bees spend the night clinging or “roosting” together on tree twigs or grass stems.

$1 - Wasp-mimic Bee (Hyleoides concinna)

The solitary Wasp-mimic Bee from the family Colletidae can most frequently be seen feeding from eucalypt flowers in eastern Australia from southern Queensland to Tasmania. It convincingly disguises itself as a black and orange wasp in order to fool and deter predators. The female builds her nest in stumps, logs or fallen trees, lining the walls and sealing the entrance with a cellophane-like material that she secretes.

$1 - Neon Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus nitidulus)

The striking, bright metallic blue Neon Cuckoo Bee from the family Apidae is so named because it opportunistically lays its eggs on the pollen balls inside the ground nests of the Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata). This solitary cleptoparasitic bee, which has no need to collect pollen from flowers, is found across eastern and northern Australia.