Natalie, Sam and Michelle from the Sydney Native Bee Community participated in the Inner West Council Footprints Eco Festival Sunday 27 August. The weather was perfect, and many curious people came by to talk about bees and ask questions. Our talk “Discover Native Bees” covered an Introduction to the ANBA, Native Solitary Bees – characteristics, habitat, Native Solitary bees of Sydney with a focus on – Xylocopa (Lestis), Leaf Cutter Bee, Blue Banded Bee and Teddy Bear bee, and Honey Competition – tips on how to prepare native honey for judging and criteria.
Conversations included people asking when the right time is to split their native bee hive, how to start keeping stingless bees and how to attract solitary bees to their garden. Honey tasting was a hit with people sampling honey – a favourite was the Austroplebeia.
From Michelle Carrick
Secretary Natalie Er, natalieer@hotmail.com
