
Bees in Australia identification
Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) can be simply mistaken for typical European honey bees (Apis mellifera), and other local native bees. Make certain you are able to recognize Asian honey bees before organising to truly have the bees eliminated, because European honey bees and native bees are essential to the environment for pollination and honey production.
Bee identification chart
Use this chart under absolutely help determine bees.
Bee and pictureSizeColorLeg colourIn a position to stingDo they swarm?Do they nest inside a cavity?
Up to 10mm
Yellow/dark brown to black colored stripes
Ebony
Yes
Yes
Yes - bees will begin to travel in and out of this cavity entrance.
Up to 15mm
Yellow/brown to darkish stripes
Ebony
Yes
Yes
Yes - bees would be fly to the cavity entry and crawl into the nest.
4mm
Ebony
Black
No
No
Yes - bees will loosely fly round the entrance. Entry gap to nest is very little.
8-12mm
Yellow/dark brown stripes
Orange to red
Yes
No
No - digs/burrows holes when you look at the ground.
11-12mm
Golden thorax, iridescent blue or white stripes
Grey, furry and black colored
Yes
No
No - digs/burrows holes within the floor.
24mm
Brilliant yellow thorax and black stomach
Black and furry
Yes
No
No - digs/burrows holes in smooth wood.
- Kept: Apis cerana, the Asian honey bee. Appropriate: Apis mellifera, the European honey bee. (Image: Paul Zborowski)
- Asian honey bee (Image: Arthur Giblin)
- European honey-bee (Image: Arthur Giblin)
- Little black bush bee (picture: Arthur Giblin)
- Halictadae (Picture: Arthur Giblin)
- Female carpenter bee (Image: Arthur Giblin)
- Blue-banded bees (Image: Erica Seigal)