Pollinators

Almost all flowering plants (90%) rely on pollinators to disperse pollen, Around 35% of crops in Australia need bees for pollination. Up to 75% of crops gain benefits from bee pollination (DAFF, 2022). While European & Asian Honeybees (Apis mellifera & cerana) are the most common/abundant pollinator, they’re exotic, meaning they’re introduced and not originally from Australia. This also means they’re not adapted to Australia’s plants, climate, disturbances and other pressures.

Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), is a parasitic mite that attacks European (Apis mellifera) and Asian honeybees (Apis cerana), but not Australian native bees. Measuring about 1 mm and reddish-brown, it is visible to the naked eye. The mite feeds on bees, spreads viruses, and weakens colonies, which typically collapse within a couple of years if untreated.

Blue-banded bee (Amegilla cingulate)

Impact on Our Bees 

The mite is devastating for both wild and managed honeybee (Apis mellifera & cerana)populations.

• Wild (Feral) Bees: Australia's uniquely large wild honeybee population, which provides free pollination services, is at extreme risk. It is predicted that 95-100% of Australia's wild honeybees will be killed within 3-4 years of infestation.

• Managed Bees: Beekeepers are expected to suffer 30% colony losses in managed hives. Mite-infested colonies are also less efficient at pollinating crops.

• Food Security Risk: Honeybees pollinate $4.6 billion worth of food (ABC, 2024) in Australia annually, which could be significantly reduced.

• Food Prices May Rise: Higher farm costs could be passed on to consumers.

• Less Produce on Shelves: There is a "serious risk" of decreased availability of fruits and vegetables, as over 65% of our crops (Aus Gov, 2022) rely on bee pollination.

• Significantly less pollination services could result in less fruit in your own garden too.

What can be done?

1.   Plant a diverse range of native flowers.

2.   Provide Shelter & Nesting Spots, make a Bee Hotel.

3. Go Chemical-Free in your garden.

Leaf-cutter bee (Megachile).

It is best to plant native species—and specifically indigenous plant species (those native to your particular area)—for all pollinators because these plants have co-evolved with local insect life, leading to crucial ecological specialisation and maximizing local pollinator diversity outcomes.

A study that added only six indigenous plant species to an urban greenspace found a 2.5-fold increase in the number of indigenous pollinator species observed, as locally indigenous flora caters towards generalist introduced pollinators and specially adapted native pollinators.

Listed below, are just a few native plant species that are indigenous to the landscape around Deep Creek that facilitate and provide for a wide range of pollinators.

Trees.

• Gum trees - Members of Myrtaceae.

• Silver Banksia, Banksia marginata.

• Blackwood wattle, Acacia melanoxylon.

Shrubs/small trees.

• Tea-tree, Leptospermum species + Kunzea.

• Twiggy daisy-bush, Olearia ramulosa.

• Sweet Bursaria, Bursaria spinosa.

• Bottle brushes, Callistemon species

Smaller bushes.

• Hop goodenia, Goodenia ovata.

• Heath, Epacris species.

Forbs & grasses

• Sticky everlasting, Xerochrysum viscosum.

• Common everlasting, Chrysocephalum apiculatum.

• Kangaroo grass, Themeda triandra.

• Wallaby grass, Rytidosperma species.

• Flax-lily, Dianella species

Climbers

Purple-coral Pea flower, Hardenbergia violaceae.

References and Resources.

DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry). (2022) Bee Aware > Effect on plant industries. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/hort-policy/honeybees#pollination 

Keogh, Rob, Anthony Robinson, and Ian J. Mullins. Pollination Aware: The real value of pollination in Australia. RIRDC, 2010. https://agrifutures.com.au/product/pollination-aware-the-real-value-of-pollination-in-australia/ 

Schremmer, J. (2024) While beekeepers face the biggest challenge in the industry’s history, will food prices be affected?, ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-17/beekeepers-alarmed-about-australias-food-security-and-prices/104589836. 

Mata, Luis, et al. "Attracting indigenous pollinators to urban greenspaces." bioRxiv (2024): 2024-12. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.17.629021.abstract 

European Wasp Resource - https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/hort-policy/honeybees#pollination 

Building a bee hotel - https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/roads/epping-road-upgrade/legacy/bee-hotels-at-wollert-secondary-college/guide-to-building-a-bee-hotel