FAR Research | Introduced 'trees for bees' Spotter Guide

In the outdoors, find and learn the names of introduced trees that bees love. What benefits do bees get from them? Learn why we need more 'bee trees'.

Students will be able to:

use flowers to identify introduced 'bee trees' (and shrubs)
explain the benefits of bee trees
appreciate that bee trees are needed in greater numbers to help bee populations flourish.

Use the spotter guide below to identify New Zealand non-native trees that bees love. At what times of the year were they flowering when you found them?

Download Introduced 'trees for bees' (pdf, A4)
Were bees actually foraging on the flowers? Why or why not?
What do you observe about the flowers and how they might be attracting bees?
Discuss what benefits bees gain from the flowers.
How can you tell if bees are collecting nectar or pollen?
Discuss why bees might need more sources of food. Where might their food sources have gone?

Warning: Do not get within 0.5 m of bees that are foraging on flowers. Mitigate any risks associated with potential stings and allergic reactions by being prepared with a risk assessment plan, appropriate permissions, medicines and adult supervision.