Stingless Bee Hive Rescues
Stingless Bee Hive Rescues, Removals and Relocations
Native, stingless bees often make their hives in inopportune places, such as water meter pits, down pipes/guttering, fences and walls.
Trees and logs are a favourite place for native bees to build there hives. This only becomes a problem if the tree is cut down or needs to be removed, then the colony of stingless bees will need to be removed.
The Steps To A Rescue
Rescuing and removing stingless bee hives is a delicate task and requires the expertise of an experienced rescuer. It's essential to ensure that both the bees and their hives remain undisturbed as much as possible. Moving a nest without proper care, technique and equipment can lead to the death of the colony, so you need to be very careful.
If a hive is in a tree or log, and it doesn't need to be removed, the best option is to leave the hive as it is and enjoy the benefits of having the hive. If you must move the hive, make sure you do it gradually (max. 1m/day) or over a kilometre away for at least 3 weeks, and then back to it's new location in your yard.
Call The Stingless Bee Lady
If a hive is found, The Stingless Bee Lady will rescue them. We have specialty made native bee hives, which we put the colony into, so it can survive and thrive. We donate our rescued hives to schools and daycares so that the children can learn about our little friends.
A finder fee is available.
We rescue native bees in the Northern Rivers, Tweed Heads, Southern Gold Coast, Northern Gold Coast, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Lismore, Ocean Shores areas. If you are outside of these areas, please contact us for recommendations of experienced native, stingless bee rescuers in your area.
Identifying Stingless Bees
Stingless bees are small, usually about 4-5 mm in length. They come in various shades of black and dark brown when closely studied. They are often mistaken for flying ants, but the inside of their hive looks like stringy wax and often smells like honey. Unlike honeybees, they do not have a sting, making them safe to handle.
You can spot them by looking at the entrance to their hive, which is usually a small hole or crack and will have several guard bees at the entrance. You'll also notice bees coming and going as they forage for pollen from flowers.
Habitats and Hive Structures
Stingless bees build their hives in diverse locations. Common habitats include hollow tree trunks, rock crevices, and sometimes even underground. They prefer areas with abundant flora for nectar and pollen.
The hive structure is complex, and has an area of brood for larvae and specific storage areas for honey pots and pollen pots. These materials are made from propolis, which is a mixture of resin and bees wax.
