Big thanks to everyone who participated in our 10th Wild Pollinator Count in autumn. With 629 submissions from 266 localities, this was not only our biggest autumn count (previous record was 363) but it surpassed our all-time record as well (600 submissions from last spring).
See the locations from which submissions came on this interactive map. We’re delighted to note all states and territories are represented.
In total, 5,806 insects were recorded across our submission categories:
| Number | as % | |
| Bees – European honey bees | 3,283 | 56.5% |
| Bees – Blue-banded bees | 274 | 4.7% |
| Bees – Other bees | 865 | 14.9% |
| Beetles – Ladybird beetles | 128 | 2.2% |
| Beetles – Other beetles | 103 | 1.8% |
| Butterflies and moths | 340 | 5.9% |
| Flies – Hover flies | 199 | 3.4% |
| Flies – Other flies | 468 | 8.1% |
| Wasps – European wasps | 34 | 0.6% |
| Wasps – Other wasps | 112 | 1.9% |
| Total | 5,806 |
Insects reported
As well as recording more insects than previous rounds (thanks in part to the increase in observations submitted), this count included more honey bees as a percentage of sightings (57%) than previous autumn counts (for example, they were 46% of last autumn’s observations). Blue banded bee percentages were fairly similar this autumn (about 5%) to last (at 6%). However ‘other bees’ came in this year at about 15%, yet made up 27% a year ago. These are mostly, but not always, native bees. We again had some bumble bee records from Tasmania this round, and they fall in this same category. Continue reading “Autumn 2019 results: our biggest count yet!”
Wild Pollinator Count 