Bees of Australia A Photographic Exploration

About this book

Bees are the darlings of the insect world. It is a joy to see these insects hard at work, peacefully buzzing from flower to flower. Many people recognise the worth of bees, as well as the multiple threats they face. But very few know about the diversity and importance of Australia's native bee species. There are an estimated 2000 to 3000 bee species in Australia, yet we know very little about the vast majority of these and there are many that are yet to be described. Bees of Australia introduces some of Australia's incredible native bees, many of which, if you look closely, can be found in gardens. The combination of photography and contributions from some of Australia's leading bee researchers allows anyone to become enthralled by Australia native bees.

Contents

Foreword - by Tim New
Acknowledgements
Introduction

1. New South Wales
Amegilla (Asaropoda) bombiformis
Megachile ustulata
Amegilla (Zonamegilla) asserta
Undescribed Leioproctus (Exleycolletes) sp.
Lasioglossum (Parasphecodes) lithuscum
Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium
Leioproctus (Exleycolletes) cristatus
Exoneura sp.
Thyreus nitidulus
Why are bees important? - by James Dorey

2. Queensland
Austroplebeia australis
Palaeorhiza (Cnemidorhiza) disrupta
Megachile abdominale
Braunsapis sp.
Hylaeus (Euprosopoides) ruficeps
Euryglossina (Microdontura) mellea
Megachile apicata
Tetragonula carbonaria
Hylaeus (Gnathoprosopis) albonitens
Megachile aurifrons
Australian native bees as crop pollinators - by Tobias J. Smith

3. Victoria
Homalictus punctatus
Leioproctus (Leioproctus) plumosus
Hylaeus (Gnathoprosopoides) philoleucus
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) veronicae
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) sp.
Amphylaeus (Amphylaeus) morosus
Pachyprosopis (Pachyprosopis) haematostoma
Nomia (Paulynomia) aurantifer
Euryglossina (Euryglossina) hypochroma
Apis mellifera
Threats to our bees - by Matthew Elmer

4. Western Australia
Amegilla (Notomegilla) chlorocyanea
Hylaeus (Euprosopis) husela
Homalictus dampieri
Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) parvula
Callohesma flavopicta
Austroplebeia essingtoni
Exoneura sp.
Hylaeus (Euprosopoides) obtusatus
Thyreus waroonensis
Social behaviour of bees - by Tim Heard

5. South Australia
Brachyhesma houston
Homalictus urbanus
New Exoneura sp.
Hylaeus (Euprosopis) honestus
Lasioglossum (Callalictus) callomelittinum
Euryglossa adelaidae
Pachyprosopis (Pachyprosopula) kellyi
Brachyhesma sp.
Lipotriches (Austronomia) australica
Exoneura sp.
How to find native bees - by James Dorey

6. Tasmania
Heterohesma clypeata
Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) perhumilis
Paracolletes (Paracolletes) crassipes
Leioproctus (Leioproctus) amabilis
Exoneura (Inquilina) sp.
Megachile (Eutricharaea) maculariformis
Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) quadratus
Bombus terrestris
How to attract native bees to your garden - by Megan Halcroft of Bees Business

7. Northern Territory
Undescribed Amegilla (Asaropoda) sp.
Brachyhesma perlutea
Braunsapis sp.
Hylaeus (Rhodohylaeus) maiellus
Hyleaus (Euprosopis) elegans
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) ochroma
Lipotriches (Austronomia) sp.
Meroglossa torrida
Xanthesma (Xanthesma) flava

8. Museums
Ctenocolletes smaragdinus
Megachile (Schizomegachile) monstrosa
Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) aruana
Palaeorhiza varicolor
Quasihesma gigantica
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) hemichalceum
Amegilla (Asaropoda) dawsoni
Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus
Hyleoides zonalis
The importance of museums - by Michael Batley

Glossary
Appendix of species by family
Further reading
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

James Dorey is undertaking a PhD on the evolution, taxonomy and ecology of Australian native bees at Flinders University, Adelaide. His stunning macro photographs have been published in books and magazines, and have been honoured in national and international photography competitions. He is amazed at the hidden diversity of bees.