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Stingless Bee - Trigona carbonaria
Family APIDAE
This page contains pictures and information about Stingless Bees that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Body length 4mm
- There are several Stingless Bees species look very similar, including Trigona sp. and Austroplebia sp. The species Trigona carbonaria is common in Brisbane.
- Stingless Bees are Australia Native Honey Bees, also known as Native Bees, Sugar-bag Bees and Sweat Bees. The bees are small in size and do not string. They are black in colour with hairy extended hind legs for carrying nectar and pollens.
Stingless Bees are active all year round in Brisbane. In winter there are less activities but will forge on warmer sunny day. They do not sting, but will defend by biting if their nest is disturbed.
Stingless Bees are social bees with very large colony. They build their nest inside living or dead tree trunk. The first picture shows a bee is heading toward home with the two baskets on its hind legs full of nectar and pollen. The second picture is the entry of their nest is at the tree trunk about 0.5 meter above ground. We can smell the honey meters away.
The above pictures show more different Stingless Bee nests.
- The introduced Honey Bees always compete with native bees in Brisbane.
