Banksia bee

The Banksia bee (Hylaeus alcyoneus) is a bee species endemic to Australia where it is commonly found in the coastal heaths of Western Australia. This bee is an important pollinator of Banksia species.

The species is notable amongst bees for sexual dimorphism — the males of the species are significantly larger that the females; in most other types of bee, females are larger than males. Males of different sizes have been shown to display different feeding behaviour. Large males perch and defend Banksia inflorescences that are in high positions on the shrub where they feed; small males feed closer to the ground and patrol circuits including several inflorescences. Displacement of large males from the perches is almost always by an even larger male.

The Banksia bee faces competition from the introduced European honey bee (Apis mellifera). In sites where the species coexist, the Banksia bee has significantly fewer nests that it has on sites where there is no competition.