The blue-banded bee is one of Australia’s most striking native bees, with a fuzzy body wrapped in iridescent blue bands that make it look like it’s dressed for a tiny black-tie event. Found across much of Australia, these solitary bees are important pollinators, visiting a wide range of native plants and using a fascinating technique called buzz pollination to shake pollen loose from flowers. They nest in small burrows in clay, mud and soft sandstone, with females creating individual chambers for their eggs and food stores. Protecting native flowering plants and nesting habitat is important for these remarkable little pollinators, and organisations like Australian Native Bee Association help raise awareness of and support the conservation of Australia’s native bees. Unlike honeybees, blue-banded bees are solitary — no hive, no queen, and no group chat required.