Southern Downs BeesSouthern Downs Native Bees Amphylaeus obscuriceps Exoneura sp Homalictus urbanus Hylaeus euxanthus Hylaeus ruficeps ruficeps Lasioglossum lanarium Leioproctus xanthosus Megachile deanii Lipotriches gracilipes Peacock Carpenter Bee Red Singer

Whilst many may be famililar with the introduced Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), the Southern Downs, Queensland region is home to an amazing range of native bee species. They vary in size and colour forms and are important pollinators.

Southern Down Bees
Male Exoneura sp, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Southern Downs Bees
Amphylaeus (Agogenohylaeus) obscuriceps on citrus lemon flower, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Amphylaeus obscuriceps
Male Exoneura sp, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Exoneura sp
Female Homalictus urbanus on Hebe, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Homalictus urbanum
Hylaeus (Gnathoprosopis) euxanthus bubbling © Marc Newman
Hylaeus euxanthus
Hylaeus (Euprosopoides) ruficeps ruficeps female on Callistemon © Marc Newman
Hylaeus ruficeps ruficeps
Male Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium on Coryopsis, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum lanarium
Leioproctus (Ceratocolletes) xanthosus on Haemodorum planifolium (Blood Root Lily) © Marc Newman
Leioproctus xanthosus
Lipotriches (Austronomia) gracilipes, Greenlands QLD © Marc Newman
Lipotriches gracilipes
Megachile (Rhodomegachile) deanii, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Megachile deanii
Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus on lemon flower - Ballandean, QLD © Marc Newman
Xylocopa aeratus
Amegilla (Asaropoda) rhodoscymna (Red Singer) roosting, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Amegilla rhodoscymna
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • (unranked): Unicalcarida
  • Suborder: Apocrita
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Clade: Anthophila
  • Families:
    • Andrenidae
    • Apidae
    • Colletidae
    • Halictidae
    • Megachilidae
    • Melittidae
    • Stenotritidae

This page is under current development, but here is a sneak preview of some of the bees found in the region. Photographs by Marc Newman.

Amegilla (Asaropoda) rhodoscymna (Red Singer) roosting, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Amegilla (Asaropoda) rhodoscymna (Red Singer) roosting, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Meroglossa impressifrons penetrata female on Eucalyptus infera removing the operculum from a partially dehised bud © Marc Newman
Meroglossa impressifrons penetrata female on Eucalyptus infera removing the operculum from a partially dehised bud, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Eurglossa adelaidae males, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Eurglossa adelaidae males, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Two female Hylaeus (Hylaeteron) douglasi among pre-anthesis flowers at the tip of a conflorescence of Grevillea excelsior (Orange Flame Grevillea) © Marc Newman
Fig 3 Two female Hylaeus (Hylaeteron) douglasi among pre-anthesis flowers at the tip of a conflorescence of Grevillea excelsior (Orange Flame Grevillea) © Marc Newman
Lipotriches muscosa, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Lipotriches muscosa on tomato flower, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Lipotriches muscosa, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Lipotriches muscosa, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Thyreus caeruleopunctatus (Chequered Cuckoo Bee) © Marc Newman
Thyreus caeruleopunctatus (Chequered Cuckoo Bee) on Purple Top Verbena © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi in Wahlenbergia, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus female on Wisteria at Ballandean, QLD © Marc Newman
Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus female on Wisteria at Ballandean, QLD © Marc Newman
Male Exoneura sp, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Male Exoneura sp, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Images © Marc Newman

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Marc Newman
  2. Bees – a search will bring up a great collection of information, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/search?sortField=&dir=desc&q=bees

Southern Downs BeesSouthern Downs Native Bees Amphylaeus obscuriceps Exoneura sp Homalictus urbanus Hylaeus euxanthus Hylaeus ruficeps ruficeps Lasioglossum lanarium Leioproctus xanthosus Megachile deanii Lipotriches gracilipes Peacock Carpenter Bee Red Singer

Southern Downs QLDSouthern Downs Fauna Southern Downs Bees Southern Downs Birds Southern Downs Crustacean Southern Downs Frogs Southern Downs Insects Southern Downs Marsupials Southern Downs Reptiles Southern Downs Spiders

QueenslandQueensland Fauna Gold Coast Region Lamington National Park Southern Downs QLD