Selecting 'trees for bees' (Teacher Support)

Introduction

Bees need our help. They are under threat from many angles, including habitat loss, reduced diversity of flowering plants in the environment, parasites, diseases and insecticide sprays. While domesticated honey bees are managed by beekeepers, wild nests of honey bees are now scarce because of varroa mite. Bumble bees, native bees and leafcutter bees have to fend for themselves and are struggling against the tide of threats.

All bees benefit from suitable bee-friendly trees — ones that supply quality nectar and pollen. This activity looks at how to select a range of 'trees for bees' that provide nectar and pollen food sources all year round.

Pollen Collecting Activity Sheet

Relates to: student Selecting trees for bees Activity

Example of how to fill in the graph

Answers

1. The most native trees are in flower during November and December, each month having 11 species.
2. The official first day of spring is 1 September and there are six native tree species in flower during that month, eight in October and 10 in November. If all these trees were present within the foraging range of bees, there would be a good spread of 'floral' food sources for them.
3. From the graph, the smallest number of native flower types available to bees is in May (with only one type flowering). This is followed by three in April, three in June and four in both July and August. Tree lucerne and weeping willow would help support the bees, though these wouldn't improve food sources in April.
4. Bees forage only on occasional warm winter days.