The European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) is a familiar visitor to our gardens, and a key player in Australian agriculture. Beekeepers (known as apiarists) have been harvesting honey and wax from these bees in Australia since their introduction in the 1820s, and today billions of honey bees are imported each year to pollinate our crops, making them a vital part of our economy.

But there are also over 2000 species of native bees, with diverse lifestyles and features perfectly adapted for Australia's unique flora. Most are solitary and make their nests underground, with mouth parts shaped to take advantage of our many eucalyptus and tea tree plants. Learn about some of our native bee species this World Bee Day.

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