Teddy Bear Bee - Amegilla cingulata

Family ANTHOPHORIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Teddy Bear Bees that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 18mm

Teddy Bear Bee is golden brown in colour with dark brown bands on abdomen. It is close relative of Blue-banded Bees. When flying, the bee looks like a furry golden ball hanging in the air. Both Teddy Bear Bees and Blue-banded Bees fly with the dart-and-hover flight pattern, which is faster and more jerky that the common Honey Bees.



Pictures were taken near Bulimba Creek in Yimbun Park Oct 2007. Pictures show the bee is visiting the Blue Flax Lily Dianella caerulea.

We saw this bee a few times, however, they fly fast and only stop on a flower buzzing for one to two seconds. It is hard to take their pictures.

Teddy Bear Bees are solitary bees, i.e., they build their own nests. However, a few females may build nest very close together, usually in the soil of creek bank. The nest may have a few cells for their young. They make a ball made of pollen and nectar, then lay an eggs on it before closing a cell..


Reference:
1. Native Bees of the Sydney region, a field guide - Anne Dollin, Michael Batley, Martyn Robinson & Brian Faulkner, Australian Native Bee Research Centre. P51.