Insects are the lifeblood of our ecosystems and pollination by insects is vitally important for our environment. Australia has lots of wild pollinator insects that are often overlooked. European honey bees get a lot of attention because they are an adaptable and seen in many gardens and also popular for commercial and home hives. These bees are happy to visit almost any flower, in most climate zones, they are also a social species, so their hives are easy to domesticate and manage.
It's a Bug's Life
However, many native insects also contribute to pollination in crops and gardens all around the country and more needs to be known about these insects. Much still needs to be researched to identify all our pollinator insect species, and understand their ecology and how they are affected by human activities. So far, it is known that Australia has around 2,000 native bee species, all of which are important pollinators. It is also known that there are a couple of thousand butterfly, wasp, fly, moth, beetle, thrips and ant species, some of which are documented pollinators. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information on the ecology of many of these insects, what flowers they pollinate, or where they are found. However, you can help with this important research.
It's a Bug's Life
gives you an opportunity to contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia. You are invited to count wild pollinators in your local environment and help build a database on wild pollinator activity.
It's a Bug's Life
Autumn: 12 – 19 April
Spring: 8 – 15 November
You can join in by watching any flowering plant for just ten minutes sometime in our count week.
What You Need to KnowYou don't need to be an insect expert. You don't need fancy gear.
You may be surprised by what you see! Find out how to count pollinators, identify the insects you see and submit your observations through the links on the Wild Pollinator website
here. You can also download our Run Your Own Count kit and organise to count with a group.
What Insect is That?
