Not all bees sting.

Larger predators are often engulfed by the sheer strength of their numbers.

There are fourteen species of stingless bees that are native to Australia.

Sugarbag Bees

Among these, the sugarbag bee or bush bee is particularly notable for the beautiful hives they make.

They are predominantly black and their bodies are covered in microscopic hairs.

The sugarbag bee builds hives in a distinctive spiral pattern unique to the species.

Sugarbag Bees

A fully developed nest may consist as many as twenty spirals.

Antibacterial properties from the resin clean any pathogens from the bees as they enter the hive.

The substance also keeps out predators such as ants and beetles.

Sugarbag Bees

It is not known why the sugarbag bee make spiral hives.

It may be to make air circulation better, especially since other bee colonies are not well ventilated.

Perhaps, it is just the outcome of some random behavior or perhaps it is adaptive.

Sugarbag Bees

But then one has to ask, why it is not more common.

Because stingless bees cant sting, many Australian suburban homeshave these beehivesin their backyard.

Tetragonula carbonaria, or the sugarbag bee is predominantly black.

Sugarbag Bees

Photo credit:Graham Wise/Flickr

The hive of sugarbag bees.

Sugarbag Bees

Sugarbag Bees