I had very little interest nor understanding of bees and their behaviour for most of my life. After completing my Honours degree in 2023, however, I have since come to appreciate the amazing diversity of stingless bees and their strange habits.
My thesis explored the potential for the (often-overlooked) male T. carbonaria to transport pollen, which was surprisingly minimal. I will be commencing a PhD mid-2024, in which I will continue to explore the nuances of stingless bee pollination. I hope to also consider the relative contributions which bee and bird visitors make to native plants by comparing the ways they behave while foraging.