Not All Bees are Black and Yellow: Exploring Bee Biodiversity in Australia

When I ask kids, "What color are bees?" the answer is almost always "black and yellow." It’s a common misconception, and it’s quite a revelation for many, both children and adults, to learn that bees come in a variety of colors and sizes. As part of our Bee Education and Bee Incursion programs, we discover the fascinating world of bee biodiversity. Let's take a closer look at the different kinds of bees we have here in Australia.

Blue Banded Bee - A Ground Nesting Bee

Understanding Bee Biodiversity

Bee biodiversity refers to the variety of bee species within a particular ecosystem or region. With over 20,000 species of bees worldwide, Australia is home to more than 2,000 species of native bees. These native bees are incredibly diverse, varying in color, shape, behavior, and size. Unlike the familiar European honey bees, many of Australia’s native bees are solitary and lead very different lives.

The Solitary Life of Native Bees

The majority of Australia’s native bees are solitary, meaning they live individually rather than in colonies. These bees make their homes in hollow stems or holes in the ground. In fact, approximately 70% of native bees are ground nesters, while the remaining 30% prefer nesting in cavities like hollow plant stems, or existing cavities like beetle holes. Habitat is crucial for the survival of these bees, and understanding their nesting habits is key to supporting their populations. And, one question I get asked a lot is whether they produce honey. Solitary and Semi Social bees do not make or store honey. 

Stingless Native Bees: A Unique Colony

While most native bees are solitary, there are some that live in colonies, such as the stingless native bees. These bees, which are found primarily in the northern and warm-coastal parts of Australia, share some similarities with honey bees. They live in colonies, are considered a superorganism, and, as their name suggests, they lack the ability to sting. Stingless bees play an essential role in pollination and contribute significantly to the biodiversity of our natural ecosystems. They also produce a unique and highly valued honey called Sugarbag.

The Role of European Honey Bees

European honey bees, managed by beekeepers (also known as apiarists), are another key species in Australia. These bees have co-evolved with our food production systems over thousands of years and are vital for both honey production and crop pollination. In Australia, honey bees are responsible for pollinating more than 53 major food crops, which is essential for the successful production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

European Honey Bees are Managed by Beekeepers Called Aprists

Social vs. Solitary Bees: Different Lives, Crucial Roles

Both social and solitary bees play important roles as pollinators, but their nesting behaviors and social structures are quite different. Social bees, like European honey bees and native stingless bees, live in large colonies with distinct roles for the queen, drones, and worker bees. These colonies construct intricate nests or hives and use sophisticated communication methods to coordinate activities.

In contrast, solitary bees lead more independent lives. Each female constructs and provisions her individual nest, often in tunnels in the ground or hollow plant stems. They have shorter lifespans and simpler communication methods, relying on visual cues or scent markings to find their nests. Semi-social bees, which exhibit traits of both social and solitary bees, may share nests with related females, but their social behaviors are less complex.

Social VS Solitary Bees

Bee Education: Not All Bees Live In A Beehive!

As part of our Bee Education and Bee Incursion programs, we explore the differences between honey bees and native bees.  We talk about the nesting places of native bees and how we can build supplementary habitats, such as native bee hotels, to support their populations.

Friends with Honey Incursion Program

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Bee-Inspired Music: Friends With Honey Musical Kids Show

The "Friends With Honey Musical Kids Show Album" includes a sweet and catchy tune that helps children understand the differences between solitary and social bees. One of the songs, "Some Bees" talks about the nesting behaviors of bees, from "living in their honey house" to "living underground where they're safe and sound." It's a fun and educational way to engage children in bee biodiversity, complete with a catchy chorus that's perfect for singing and dancing along.

So, next time you’re out in nature, keep an eye out for the incredible variety of bees that call Australia home. And remember, the more we learn about these amazing creatures, the better we can support their vital role in our ecosystems.

Friends With Honey Musical Kids Show Album

The Sweet Life Of Bees: How & Why Do Bees Make Honey?

When teaching kids about bees and honey, I often start with a simple question: “Why do bees make honey, and what do you think would happen if bees didn’t make honey?” 

The most common response is, “They make it for us to eat!”  While that’s a lovely thought, the reality is quite different. Bees don’t care if we have enough honey for our crumpets - they’re focused on their own survival.

Honey is made from nectar and is essential for bees because it’s their primary carbohydrate source. They store it in the hive to ensure they have enough food during times when nectar is scarce, such as in winter or during extreme weather events like drought or heat waves. 

For beekeepers, maintaining a balance between harvesting honey and leaving enough for the bees is crucial for the health and survival of their hives.

Let's dive into the fascinating process of how bees make and store honey.

Frame of capped honey from my farm in Amphitheatre

Step 1: Gathering the Nectar

The honey making process begins with the incredible foraging skills of worker bees. Their mission? To seek out nectar-producing flowers, which can be located up to two kilometers away from the hive. The worker leaving the nest on a foraging trip can face an overwhelming array of flowers, some more valuable than others.  Using their highly sensitive antennae, bees can detect the best times to visit flowers, as nectar production fluctuates throughout the day.

The bee uses her straw-like tongue, called a proboscis, to suck up nectar from flowers and store it in a special pouch called the honey stomach.  This organ is specifically designed for carrying nectar and occupies much of the bee’s abdominal cavity when full.

Interestingly, if a bee is hungry, she can transfer some nectar from the honey stomach to her own stomach to fuel her energy as she continues to forage.  Honeybees are capable of flying up to five kilometers in search of food, but they typically forage closer to the hive if good food sources are available. Most foraging flights cover around 800 meters. Once the honey stomach is full, the bee heads back to the hive, carrying her precious cargo.

Considering that the honey stomach can hold nearly 25 to 40 milligrams of nectar - almost equal to the bee's own weight of around 50 milligrams - it’s quite an impressive feat!

Step 1: Gathering Nectar

Step 2: Converting the Nectar to Honey

Once back at the hive, the nectar undergoes a transformation. This process is carried out by younger worker bees, known as house bees. They pass the nectar from mouth to mouth in a process called trophallaxis. As they do this, they add an enzyme called invertase, which breaks down the complex sugar in nectar (sucrose) into two simpler sugars: glucose (blood sugar) and fructose (fruit sugar).

As the nectar is passed between bees, its moisture content gradually decreases. Initially, nectar is around 70% water, but through the bees' processing, the moisture content is reduced to about 20%. This reduction is crucial for the conversion of nectar into honey, as it prevents fermentation and spoilage. Once the nectar reaches the ideal moisture level, the bees store it in hexagonal honeycomb cells within the hive. It takes many tiny drops of honey to fill just one cell, and it’s astonishing to consider that a single bee produces only about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.

Step 2: Converting Nectar to Honey

Step 3: Fanning and Ripening the Honey

After nectar is stored in the honeycomb cells, bees work to reduce its moisture content further and ripen the honey. They do this by fanning their wings continuously, creating airflow within the hive. This airflow helps evaporate excess water from the nectar, further reducing its moisture content. The ideal moisture content for ripened honey is around 18%.

Proper ripening is crucial because honey with too much moisture can ferment, leading to spoilage. By reducing the water content, bees ensure that the honey is stable, less prone to fermentation, and protected from contamination by fungi or bacteria.

Step 3: Fanning and Ripening the Honey

Step 4: Sealing the Honeycomb Cell

Once the honey is fully ripened, the bees seal the honeycomb cell with wax, creating an airtight barrier that preserves the honey’s nutritional value. This sealed honey will serve as a vital food source for the bees during lean times when nectar is not available.

Step 4: Sealing the Honeycomb Cell

Bee Education: Appreciation for our Friends with Honey

As part of our Bee Education and Bee Incursion programs, we delve into this intricate process of honey production. Bees are extraordinary creatures, functioning together as a superorganism to create and store honey.  By learning about each step of the process from nectar collection to the final, delicious product we can gain a deeper appreciation for the incredible work these insects do to produce such a valuable and delicious resource.

Friends with Honey Incursion Program

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Bee-Inspired Music: Friends with Honey

Our passion for bees extends beyond education. The Friends With Honey Musical Kids Show Album features a toe tapping tune that helps children understand the importance of bees. “The Bee Song” is a treat for lovers of country music and teaches kids how “life's so sweet when you are a bee.” It’s also perfect for learning a simple line dance like the “Cowboy Shuffle.”

Through both education and entertainment (we like to say edutainment!), we aim to inspire a love and respect for bees in the next generation.

Friends With Honey Musical Kids Show Album

DIY Honey Tasting and Manuka Honey Explained

A common misconception is that honey is a standard product, but, honey is anything but simple - it's an incredibly complex and diverse product with hundreds of different varietals found worldwide. These can range from strong to mild in flavor and vary from light to dark in color.

Different varieties of Australian honey

The Diversity of Honey: Monofloral vs. Polyfloral

One of the first distinctions to understand is between monofloral and polyfloral honey. Monofloral honey is made primarily from the nectar of a single species of plant, such as the Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora). This type of honey tends to have a more consistent flavor profile. On the other hand, polyfloral honey is a blend of nectars from various plant species, making each jar as unique as a snowflake. The diversity of floral sources results in a complex and varied flavor that reflects the environment in which the bees were foraging and what is blooming at the time.

The Botanicals

DIY Honey Tasting: A Journey Through Flavors

To truly appreciate the variety of honey, a DIY honey tasting is a fantastic way to explore your own taste preferences. Here are four distinctive honey varietals that will give you an appreciation into the vast differences in taste and aroma:

1. Banksia Honey: This sweet, medium-strength honey builds from a subtle butterscotch aroma to deeper notes of caramel before mellowing in your mouth. It's a perfect starting point for your tasting journey.

2. Leatherwood Honey: Unique to Tasmania, Leatherwood honey is known for its extraordinary floral aromas and spicy, piquant taste. This honey is a true representation of its native environment and offers a flavor experience like no other.

3. Backyard or Polyfloral Honey: Backyard honey is unique to its location, reflecting what’s in bloom around the beehive. Connecting with a local beekeeper to obtain a jar of this honey allows you to taste the hard work of bees in your area and enjoy the flavors of your local flora.

4. Manuka Honey: Known for its earthy taste, Manuka honey stands out with its less sweet, more medicinal flavor profile. The distinct methanol or eucalyptus notes make it a unique addition to your honey tasting.

   
   

How to Taste the Honey: Swirl, Sniff & Dip

To elevate your honey tasting experience, try using small wine glasses and following the swirl, sniff, and dip technique:

• Swirl: Rotate your spoon clockwise to release the honey's aromas, just as you would with a fine wine.

• Sniff: Bring the spoon to your nose and take note of the different aromas and attributes. Each honey varietal will have its unique scent profile.

• Dip: Place a small quantity of honey in your mouth, and as you savor it, breathe out to fully experience the flavors and subtle nuances.
  

This method allows you to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of each honey, making your tasting experience even more enriching.

The Magic of Manuka Honey: More Than Just a Taste

Manuka honey is renowned not just for its flavor but also for its unique health properties. This honey contains high concentrations of certain compounds, such as methylglyoxal (MGO), dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and leptosperin, which contribute to its antibacterial and medicinal qualities. The UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating system, developed by the UMF Honey Association in New Zealand, measures the potency of Manuka honey, particularly focusing on the concentration of these key compounds.

The MGO rating specifically measures the methylglyoxal content, with higher ratings indicating more potent antibacterial activity. However, while Manuka honey is celebrated for its health benefits, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional before using it for medicinal purposes, especially if you have allergies or pre-existing health conditions.

Honey Tasting Masterclass: Be Guided By The Experts

If you'd prefer to be guided by the experts, Friends with Honey offers a Honey Tasting Masterclass. We'll guide you through the fascinating story of honey, from its production processes to its unique sensory qualities.  Perfect for corporate and team-building events, this engaging and educational experience not only celebrates the extraordinary diversity and depth of this remarkable superfood but also highlights the hard work and dedication of bees. It offers a unique opportunity to bond, learn, and draw inspiration from the tireless efforts of these incredible creatures.

Honey Tasting Masterclass - a perfect team-building event!

Bee Education: Understanding Honey Production

As part of our Bee Education and Bee Incursion programs, we explore the intricate process of honey production and the role of beekeepers in bringing the product to market. Bees are extraordinary creatures, working together as a super organism to make and store honey. By learning about the process, from nectar collection to the final product, we can better appreciate the incredible work these insects do to produce such a valuable resource.

Friends with Honey Incursion Program

Book Now

Bee-Inspired Music: Friends with Honey

The Friends with Honey Musical Kids Show Album includes many sweet and catchy tunes to help children understand the importance of bees. With lyrics like, "They help to feed us all, you see, across the world for you and me," our theme song "Friends with Honey" tells the story of how bees are essential not just for honey but for our food supply and ecosystems as a whole.

So, remember that honey is more than just a sweet treat - it's a gateway to understanding the natural world and the incredible work of bees and beekeepers. Whether you're savoring the complex flavors in a DIY honey tasting or learning about the fascinating process of honey production, there's always something new to discover. So next time you enjoy a spoonful of honey, take a moment to appreciate the journey it took from the hive to your table.

Friends With Honey Musical Kids Show Album