Project Launch: Season 4, 2025.

A study of bees, living free on country. To deliver improvements for Australian climate, biodiversity and Apiculture. 

This project brings together researchers, citizen scientists, NGO’s, Governmental organisations and the Apiculture industry to participate ina study that aims to observe the habitat of bees so that we can ensure protection for future generations.

Bees living free have evolved via natural selection and offer great pollination value to native plants that are essential to the improvement of biodiversity and the achievement of national environmental objectives.

This study will observe the habitat of the bee living free in hollows, caves, open air and other habitations to understand the ecology and nest sites for bees to thrive in the wild. This project will include observation of nesting habitat, migration patterns and adaptive potential.Wing morphology will also help to characterise the origins of Apis species on the Australian continent and their adaptations to living freely in the wild.

If you spot a nest in the wild, please fill out the form below.

Nests recorded

1 3

View all Recorded Nests

Seven Sisters Songline 1994 by Josephine Mick, Ninuku Arts. © the artist / Licensed by Viscopy, 2017. Photo: National Museum of Australia.
Seven Sisters Songline 1994 by Josephine Mick, Ninuku Arts. © the artist / Licensed by Viscopy, 2017. Photo: National Museum of Australia.

Learn how to observe wild hives

Observing wild bees 

  • The origin of wild bees dates back over 100 million years before the age of beekeeping.
  • Wild nests are free living bee naturally occurring and can also originate from a nest swarm when they develop adaptation and hybridisation techniques.
  • Nests will originate along songlines and in areas of magnetic activity such as underground water streams, mineral deposits, and other areas of significance. These areas may display high activity of bee flight, foraging and swarming.

How to see a bees nest  

  • Open air: nesting sites where comb will hang off branches or trees in the air. You may see the beeswax, it mat be dark gold in colour or bright white wax.
  • Cavity nesting: found in cavities of approximately 40L of space such as tree hollows, caves and habitations.  
  • Flight path: A direct and active channel of bees all travelling either to and from one singular destination often a flower or water source. 
  • Scent: Hive air will present strong aromas of honey and beeswax. 
  • Sound: You will hear an orchestra buzzing. Buzzing will begin at sunrise and carry out until sundown.

Traits and characteristics 

  • Body colour: wild bees of the Apidae family display dark body colouration
  • Wing venation: variations will be seen in the wing structure and vein pattern
  • Body size:

Sugarbag stingless: 3-4 mm in length

Apis cerana: 7.0-10 mm in length

Apis mellifera: 10-15 mm in length

Apis florea: 7.0-10 mm in length

  • Defense: You may see a number of guard bees defending the entrance. 
  • Foraging activity: is an indication of a strong hive. You may see bees returning with full pollen pockets.

Comb structure

  • You may see a coating of propolis covering the entrance to the city gates
  • Honey and eggs are protected in between the outer walls of wax and the natural hive wall
  • Darker comb: High propolis development which displays strong defence qualities for hive health
  • Hexagonal comb sizes will vary according to their environment, season and local resources
  • The comb will reflect a natural architecture that suits the bees and their needs
  • A smaller wild hive may only hold up to 3 wax walls. The centre wall will host and incubate the brood and the queen. A larger hive can have over 20 wax walls. The larger the colony the more potential for future swarms.

Beelining

  • Beelining is a method for scouting wild bee hives.
  • When in the presence of bees on flowers, you may “beeline” the bees, follow the direction of their returning flight
  • Bees with full pollen pockets are sure to be on their way home and are great bees to scout

Project Objectives