What is the difference between Feral Bees & Managed Bees?

Feral bees are European Honeybees that have flown away from managed hives and formed their own colonies in the environment. They become extremely aggressive, commonly swarm and and even displace native animals from their homes. Their honey has little value to commercial honey production or crop pollination (DEC, Feral Bee Strategy 2005).

Feral bees can carry exotic bee diseases and mites, so by controlling bees we can control these diseases. Managed bees are the European Honeybees (Apis mellifera) managed by registered (and sometimes unregistered!) beekeepers.

Why do we need to control feral bees?

We are undertaking this project as feral bees out compete native birds and animals for natural nesting hollows in trees. With an increase in habitat clearing and an increase in urbanisation there have been changes in bird species distribution largely due to the loss of remnant bushlands and large, mature, hollow bearing trees.

Hollow bearing trees are important nesting sites for many bird & reptile species including Owls, Red Capped Parrots, Honeyeaters, Pardalotes, Raptors, Invertebrates including Lizards & Snakes.

Feral bees are potentially threatening the biodiversity of native birds through invading these natural habitat hollows. This project aims to protect and many animals that are losing their homes to threats such as feral bees.

Feral bees can carry exotic bee diseases and mites (Acarine mites, Varroa and European Foul Brood disease), therefore controlling bees can remove this threat to the Managed honeybee industry & concern to apiarists & hobby bee keepers in Melville.

 The threat of feral bees out-competing native bees (there are over 2000 species of native bees which are at risk of extinction).

What is a Nesting hollow?

Natural hollows or cavities in the trunks and branches of old trees (dead or alive), where birds nest to incubate & hatch their young.

Why were the 11 sites chosen?

Green links

Will more reserves be included in the future?

We are hoping that we will be able to source funds to include all reserves in the project and that Feral Bee control will become part of the Bushlands’ routine maintenance.

Which bushland reserves are in the project?

Attadale Bushland Reserve

Blackwall Reach & Point Walter bushland

Blue Gum Lake

Booragoon Lake

Ern Stapleton

Harry Sandon Reserve

Ken Hurst Park

Point Heathcote

Piney Lakes

Wal Hughes

Wireless Hill

Which Local Friends groups are involved in the project?

Friends of Attadale Foreshore

Bicton Environmental Action Group

Friends of Harry Sandon

Friends of Wireless Hill

Friends of Ken Hurst Park

Friends of Piney Lakes

Technical Advice/Support from

Department of Environment & Conservation

Department of Agriculture WA

WA Museum

SERCUL

How are we Controlling Feral bees?

Joe Tonga, from Natsync Environmental is using a Permethrin based Insecticidal powder that has no odour and is not a scheduled poison and is scheduled for the use of public health insect pests.

For more information on this please call Jo direct on 0418 918 367.

What do I do if I have bees at my property (not in trees)?

Call a pest controller. They can be found in the Yellow Pages.

This service is not provided by the City of Melville, this is the property owner’s responsibility.

For more information please contact Fleur Patterson, the Environmental Officer on 9364 0283.