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Australian Stingless Bees: An OverviewAustralia is home to a small but spectacular group of stingless bees—tiny, social pollinators that thrive in the warmer parts of the continent. Unlike the familiar European honey bee, these natives (tribe Meliponini) do not have a functional sting. They live in perennial colonies, build intricate nests inside natural cavities, and make a highly prized, aromatic honey known as sugarbag.Quick facts+ Genera in Australia: Tetragonula and Austroplebeia
+ Number of recognised Australian stingless bee species: ~11
+ Body size: ~3–4 mm; dark bodies with varying pale markings
+ Where they occur: Northern and eastern Australia—tropics and subtropics
+ Honey: Small annual yields (typically around 0.5–1 kg per strong hive), tangy/floral profile, stored in resin‑wax “pots” (sugarbags)
+ Value: Exceptional native pollinators for orchards, bushfoods, and gardens.Where they liveStingless bees occur through coastal and inland northern Australia and down the east coast into New South Wales. They’re absent from the cooler southern states. In Far North Queensland (FNQ)—including the Atherton Tablelands—conditions are ideal: warm temperatures, long flowering seasons, and plenty of nest cavities (e.g., tree hollows, wall voids, water meter boxes).Australian stingless bee groups
Tetragonula (previously Trigona)Compact, dark bees often difficult to tell apart from looks alone. Common species kept by beekeepers include:Tetragonula carbonaria (TC) – widespread on the east coast between Bundaberg and Sydney. They also exist in higher altitude sub-tropical areas such as the Atherton Tablelands. TC are famous for a beautiful spiral brood comb.Tetragonula hockingsi (TH) – predominantly tropical/subtropical Queensland, most common in FNQ. They exist in the wild along the East coast of Queensland from Brisbane to Cape York. Hockingsi are a popular bee to keep in coastal climates, especially between Mackay and Cairns.AustroplebeiaGenerally gentle bees, some with cream/yellow thorax markings. Several species occur in northern/eastern Australia (e.g., A. australis, A. cassiae, A. cincta in Cape York), though they’re less commonly kept in FNQ than the two Tetragonula above.