Did you know New Zealand is buzzing with more than 28 species of native bees? As a note, we have 28 species of native bees in New Zealand. Of those 28, 27 are endemic – meaning they occur only in New Zealand, and one is indigenous – meaning it also occurs in Australia but arrived here unaided by humans (Hart 2007).
These little guys are crucial to our ecosystem when it comes to pollination. They have quite a diverse taste in flowers, but if you want to make them extra happy, consider planting some of their favourites like pohutakawa, kanuka, tree fuschia alongside manuka and hebe’s.
Please a note that native bees are solitary and will nest in exposed clay banks and dead falx flower stems.
Picture this: about one-third of the yummy foods and drinks we enjoy rely on pollinators like our trusty pī mīere pals. We're talking about fruits, veggies, nuts, and even some legumes. Without these hardworking bees, farmers and gardeners would be in a pickle – they'd lose a huge chunk of their crops!
But wait, there's more! Pī mīere are like the party planners of the animal kingdom. They help make sure there's plenty of food for grazing animals by pollinating alfalfa and clover.
Plus, they're total champions of biodiversity. They spread pollen to wild plants, some of which have special healing powers as medicinal plants.
Here are some quick bee-bits:
Plants to attract Pī Mīeres.
