Welcome to Spicers Hollow Native Bees

Spicers Hollow Native Bees acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia We recognise their connection to land and waters and thank them for caring for our ecosystems. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders past and present.  

3 species of Native Stingless Bees commonly kept in South East Queensland

​1. Tetragonula Carbonaria (TC) are the quintessential stingless bee. They are the most studied stingless bee in Australia. They produce a beautiful flat brood comb that forms rising spiral sheets. Their honey is quite tangy and tart with distinct citrus notes 

​2. Austroplebeia Australis (AA) a very timid and gentle bee. Australis have a cluster type of brood. The nest structure and brood cells are constructed from near pure wax which gives the colony its distinctive creamy appearance. AA close the hive entrance every night with a curtain made from propolis (resin and wax mixture). Some colonies will even make a defensive tunnel that protrudes from the hive. Australis bees have distinctive cream markings on their thorax. Australis honey is the closest to Apis (honey bee)  honey in taste and viscosity as the the storage pots are made from wax and not propolis. It is the tree resins in propolis that give TC and TH honey its distinctive flavour that is not found in Australis honey.

​3. Tetragonula Hockingsi (TH) have a semi comb brood structure. They are the biggest of the stingless bees and can be quite aggressive. They are known for high productivity and they produce a milder, less tangy honey than TC's.

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Mobile - 0413 486 163   
Alex Derrick T/AS Spicers Hollow Native Bees - Ringtail Carpentry  ABN   90622304469    QBCC LICENCE    1037521    

Australian Native Bee Association  - Industry member. Brisbane Branch.