New A rare species An iconic bee An important pollinator · 2016. 2. 17. · this rare pollinator...
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A rare species The green carpenter bee has become extinct in Victoria and mainland South Australia, probably as a result of land clearing and large wildfires. It was once widely distributed from northern New South Wales to Kangaroo Island. On Kangaroo Island, the last foothold in southern Australia, the species has contracted westwards in the last 15 years. It is likely the 2007 wildfires decimated the population of Flinders Chase National Park, and burnt the main nesting substrate, dead Banksia. This survey will help determine if the Flinders Chase population is recovering and if other KI populations are stable. Image above: Dead Banksia trunks are the main nesting substrate for green carpenter bees (nest entrance diameter ~ 1 cm). An iconic bee The green carpenter bee is the largest native bee in southern Australia. With a body length of 2 cm and a brilliant blue-green colour, the green carpenter bee is very distinctive. It nests in dry flowering stalks of yaccas (grass trees) and in trunks and branches of dead Banksia. In spring and early summer, the females store pollen and nectar in the brood cells to feed their young. Green carpenter bee populations are generally low as their colonies are small and nest sites limited. Image above: A female green carpenter bee. An important pollinator The green carpenter bee is a buzz pollinator. Buzz pollinators are specialist bees that vibrate the pollen out of the tube-like anthers of buzz pollinated plants. The introduced honeybee does not collect pollen through buzzing and therefore cannot pollinate buzz pollinated plants. Many native plants, such as guinea-flowers, velvet bushes, fringe, chocolate and flax lilies, rely completely on buzz pollinating bees for pollination and seed production. Image above: The green carpenter bee is an important pollinator of native plants such as the guinea-flower Hibbertia prostrata.
Transcript of New A rare species An iconic bee An important pollinator · 2016. 2. 17. · this rare pollinator...
A rare speciesThe green carpenter bee has become extinct in Victoria and mainland South Australia, probably as a result of land clearing and large wildfires. It was once widely distributed from northern New South Wales to Kangaroo Island. On Kangaroo Island, the last foothold in southern Australia, the species has contracted westwards in the last 15 years.
It is likely the 2007 wildfires decimated the population of Flinders Chase National Park, and burnt the main nesting substrate, dead Banksia. This survey will help determine if the Flinders Chase population is recovering and if other KI populations are stable.
Image above: Dead Banksia trunks are the main nesting substrate for green carpenter bees (nest entrance diameter ~ 1 cm).
An iconic beeThe green carpenter bee is the largest native bee in southern Australia. With a body length of 2 cm and a brilliant blue-green colour, the green carpenter bee is very distinctive.
It nests in dry flowering stalks of yaccas (grass trees) and in trunks and branches of dead Banksia.
In spring and early summer, the females store pollen and nectar in the brood cells to feed their young.
Green carpenter bee populations are generally low as their colonies are small and nest sites limited.
Image above: A female green carpenter bee.
An important pollinatorThe green carpenter bee is a buzz pollinator.
Buzz pollinators are specialist bees that vibrate the pollen out of the tube-like anthers of buzz pollinated plants.
The introduced honeybee does not collect pollen through buzzing and therefore cannot pollinate buzz pollinated plants.
Many native plants, such as guinea-flowers, velvet bushes, fringe, chocolate and flax lilies, rely completely on buzz pollinating bees for pollination and seed production.
Image above: The green carpenter bee is an important pollinator of native plants such as the guinea-flower Hibbertia prostrata.
Have you seen thegreen carpenter bee?
Help protect the rare green carpenter bee on Kangaroo Island in South Australia
Image above: A nest entrance in a dry flowering stalk of a yacca (diameter ~ 1 cm).
A survey is underwayInformation about the current distribution of the green carpenter bee will allow better protection of this rare pollinator and iconic species of Kangaroo Island.
How can you help?If you have seen the green carpenter bee, or know the location of a nest, please send an e-mail to:[email protected]
Let him knowWhere, when, and what you saw.The location will then be included in the survey.
ContactsRobyn Molsher Department of Environment, Water and Natural [email protected]
Richard GlatzSouth Australian Research and Development [email protected]
Remko LeijsSouth Australian Museum / Ecosystem [email protected]
2013 SurveysIf you are interested in participating in a survey in spring 2013 please contact Robyn Molsher.
Green carpenter bee images Remko Leijs.Brochure text Katja Hogendoorn.© Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources 2013
