Bees (Hymenoptera, Apiformes)
An introduction to Australian Native Bees can be found here:
https://www.aussiebee.com.au/beesinyourarea.html
The identification of bees from photographs can be difficult as tiny details on the animals have to be seen. Michael Batley, our moderator for bees has begun a trial identification tool for bees. The test groups are Megachilid bees and Hylaeine bees found in the Sydney basin and Blue Mountains.
If you want to try the identification tools, the addresses for the two groups are below:-
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Discussion
KMcCue
wrote:
25 Feb 2026
Thanks Peter
This bee hardly stopped, I don't know how you got such good pictures of them in your book.
This bee hardly stopped, I don't know how you got such good pictures of them in your book.
Leioproctus sp. (genus)
PeterA
wrote:
25 Feb 2026
Can't quite see the wing venation, but the ocelli high on the head suggests Leioproctus.
Leioproctus sp. (genus)
PeterA
wrote:
25 Feb 2026
This small bee seen a number of times now around Canberra.
Exoneurella lawsoni
Significant sightings
- Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT
- Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT
- Leioproctus (Andrenopsis) wilsoni at Bruce, ACT
- Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Yarralumla, ACT
- Hylaeus (Euprosopoides) perplexus at Murrumbateman, NSW
- Megachile (Rhodomegachile) deanii at Acton, ACT
- Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT
- Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Theodore, ACT
- Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT
- Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Gundaroo, NSW
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