Native 'trees for bees' Spotter Guide

Spot flowers that bees love

1. Use the spotter guide below to identify New Zealand native trees that bees love. Bees include honey bees, bumble bees and native bees. At what times of the year were they flowering when you found them?
2. Native trees for bees Spotter Guide download (pdf, A4)
   
3. Were bees actually foraging on the flowers? Why or why not?
4. What do you notice about the flowers and how they might be attracting bees?
5. Discuss what benefits bees gain from the flowers. How can you tell if bees are collecting nectar or pollen?
6. Discuss why bees are increasingly in need of more sources of food. Where might their food sources have gone?

Hints and tips

Related resources:

Introduced trees for bees Spotter Guide

Selecting trees for bees Activity

Flowers for bees

Pollinator pulling power

Pollinators in New Zealand

Trees for bees — keeping bees healthy