Native Bees — Batavia Coast and Midwest WAAustrothurgus  Euhesma Exoneura Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus Hylaeus mysterium puella Hylaeus sanguinipictus Lasioglossum (Homalictus) dotatum Leioproctus Megachile aurifrons Megachile semiluctuosa Megachile (Thaumatosoma) duboulaii Meroglossa rubricata Thyreus waroonensis Trichocolletes

Commonly known as Reed Bees, the genus Exoneura are found in all states and territories of Australia.

These bees are up to 8 mm long and nest inside the pithy stems of plants such as tree ferns and grass trees, with two or more bees known to share a nest. They are also known to nest in exotic plants such as the canes of Lantana (a known weed species in Australia).

Genus Exoneura, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

They have a glossy black head and thorax. The abdomen is black or an orange-red in colour and wedge shape abdomen (as viewed from the side).

Exoneura sp, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

Bubbling Bee – the Exoneura

With the flowering of the Tamarisk trees come the hoards of Exoneura. There’s always a few about over summer but at this time of the year they thrive, everywhere you look there’s little bees foraging on the new flowers, if you see one not moving it’s probably bubbling, like this one. I’ve seen it plenty of times but I still love the clarity of the nectar bubble and the way it captures the image behind, inverting it as a lens does 🙂

Author Gary Taylor
Bubbling genus Exoneura on a Tamarisk © Gary Taylor
Bubbling genus Exoneura on a Tamarisk, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

Like many of our native bees, the Exoneura can also be seen “bubbling”.

The act of when “a bee bubble” is a process by which the bee is said to be concentrating the nectar that they have collected from flowers, making it more suitable for their needs. Many native bee species are know to do this and have been seen blowing bubbles. Other genera that can be seen “bubbling” include Lasioglossum, subgenus Homalictus, the species Amegilla chlorocyanea, as well as many of the bees from the family Colletidae who are known to blow bubbles.

Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Exoneura sp in the process of bubbling, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Expressions of the Exoneura sp, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Expressions of the Exoneura sp, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Informal: Apiformes
  • Family: Apidae
  • Subfamily: Xylocopinae
  • Tribe: Allodapini
  • Genus: Exoneura
  • Subgenus:
    • Exoneura (Brevineura) Michener, 1965
    • Exoneura (Exoneura) Smith, 1854
    • Exoneura (Inquilina) Michener, 1961
  • Species:
    • Exoneura marjoriella Rayment, 1949
    • Exoneura nigrescens Friese, 1899
    • Exoneura rufa Rayment, 1935

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs and content contributor © Gary Taylor
  2. Exoneura Smith, 1854, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Exoneura

Native Bees — Batavia Coast and Midwest WAAustrothurgus  Euhesma Exoneura Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus Hylaeus mysterium puella Hylaeus sanguinipictus Lasioglossum (Homalictus) dotatum Leioproctus Megachile aurifrons Megachile semiluctuosa Megachile (Thaumatosoma) duboulaii Meroglossa rubricata Thyreus waroonensis Trichocolletes

Insects — Batavia Coast and Midwest WANative Bees Wasps

The Batavia Coast and Midwest WAFauna

Western AustraliaWestern Australia Fauna Western Australia Flora The Batavia Coast and Midwest WA Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park Great Southern WA South West WA Stirling Range National Park